Dancing Bean

For a blog about 3 little boys and their frazzled parents...

This post will be decidedly GIRLY!

Much of Todd's family live in Michigan and while we do not get to see them very often, we always enjoy our time together whenever there is an opportunity.

Todd's Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews are so much fun and live life to the fullest.

Recently, Todd's gorgeous, amazing and creative cousin, Monica, started a business.

They are ADORABLE!!!!

I love this one... totally ROCKER!!!!!

So Sweet and feminine...

I love the purple bow and how poofy it is...

This one is the most beautiful by far...

(and the tutu is cute too!)

This is Frankie, Monica's little one!

I will be honest, we have not had the opportunity to meet her,  but everything I hear about her is that she is just as special as she looks in this photo... and personifies the red hair too!

Monica even makes tutus for dolls as well.

The prices start around $20 and she can make them in a variety of colors.

And while I won't be dressing the boys in any tutus,

I could not help but pass on the beautiful items.

If you are interested in having one made, you can find her on facebook.

Search for Dancing Beans, Custom Tutus

or leave me a message in the comments, and I will gladly pass it on.

 A BIG THANK YOU to Monica and her beautiful family for letting me post about them.

Aren't they gorgeous... wonder where they are in this photo?

OMG.... you need to make a Disney TUTU!!!!

HMMMMMM.... maybe I do need a costume for next year's marathon.

On a side note... Sonny, Monica's oldest, was the scoundrel who gave Todd Jr. his first Popsicle.

I will have to find the photos and scan them in.

Wanna talk about an 8 month old in a sugar induced heaven.... yikes!

Yeah, right!

I just checked my license...

and our power bill.

They both indicate Florida as our state of residence.

Wondering about the accuracy.

Every road that crosses in to the state has a sign that claims we are "The Sunshine State."

So, where the h-e-double hockey sticks is it... the sun, that is.

Just took the above photo... it is not here and by the way, I know the rest of the continental US is covered in ice and snow...

but it is cold here too...

I had to turn on the heat.

(And yes, to our family in Michigan... I love you all and can hear your laughter from here:)

I tried to take a photo of Grant, but he ran and hid.

So I took a photo of what he was doing...

Watching a movie on this cold and rainy day.

Can you name that movie?

I know you can!



Blah... It's February.

Usually, Monday nights at work are painfully slow - truly mind numbing.

However, this past Monday night was filled with chatters.

One woman was ove the top... a whirlwind. 

She was pulling items off shelves, hangers and rounders, even insisting I order items from the warehouse... to ultimately completely changing her mind when she got to the register to check out... EXHAUSTING.

I think I spent another 30 minutes hanging clothes she left on the dressing room floor!

... the ugliness of retail!

Later, a woman came in pushing a cart she had commandeered from Sears.

She begain talking to me about her children and grandchildren and asked me if I had any little ones.

The DREADED QUESTION!

"I have three little boys at home," I answered.

"No little girls to dress up?" She wondered.

"No." - Cringe

"Every woman should have a daughter," she stated.

Uncomfortable smile... crack in my heart burns a little.

"You and your husband should try for a daughter."

At this point wishing she would leave.

Finally, after another 20 minutes, she left.

You may ask, why didn't I say anything?

Sometimes I do.

Sometimes I don't.

Cannot really explain it.

Just the way it is.

My manager gave me a box of things she had for her children's group at church - just a few random things... crayons.. paper... etc.

There were also several little girls barrettes and ponytail holders... I am sending them to our niece, Madison... wish we needed them.

February has arrived.

Not an easy time of year.

Naps, Fortresses, and Field Trips, oh my!

Around here, naps are still an necessity... on a daily basis.

Both for the health of the boys and the sanity of the Mommy:)

Most days, either Grady sleeps in our bed for nap time or Grant does.

Look what I found in my bed a few days ago.

So sweet.

He was like that for a good hour.

I guess his cheeks were cold.

Todd said it reminded him of this...

Too funny... just glad Grant wasn't screaming.

Playtime around here is also pretty entertaining.

(BTW it can often have an impact on Mommy's sanity as well.)

Here are the little men in the fortress they erected.

They can play like this for hours.

Last Friday, Grady had a field trip to the Jr museum here in PC.

The kids all had a great time and Dat Dat played chaperon.

(Grant and I went along as well... even though there were no siblings allowed... we just went as regular patrons... and played on our own!)

Grady and his friends on the nature trail! 

Dr. Grady! 

Fun was had by all and this summer I will definitely take all the boys back for a day of fun!

Bye, Bye Bear?

As some of you may know, Todd Jr has been suffering for MONTHS now with a perpetual snotty nose.

And I don't mean just a little runny...

It has been horrible.

The Doctor has tried Nasonex and Singulair... neither of which put the slightest dent in the sinus flow.

So, yesterday after Grady, Grant and I picked up Todd Jr from school, we headed to see the allergist.

They had informed me that it could take up to two hours for the testing.

Luckily, Todd remembered to bring in his homework...

and the little boys found things to entertain themselves...

Like playing with the blinds...

And checking out the toys in the room.

Finally, the nurse came in to do the allergy test.

It is really interesting.

They load this little contraption with several different allergens.

Next they grind the little teeth on the contraption into the skin on your back.

The you wait 20 minutes to see what happens.

Sounds like a recipe to me.

This is right after they put all the stuff on his back.

He was so patient and good.

This is about 10 minutes in.

Looks like something is happening.

A closeup of the action!

After 20 minutes and quick clean up of his back an answer awaited us.

Wait for it.

DUST MITES!!!!!!!

Dust mites are everywhere!

On you.

In your House.

On your Furniture.

They love Carpet.

Your Mattress.

Your Dog.

Your Pillow.

Your Brothers.

Your Bear.

Say WHAT?

 I have to be honest, I actually cried.

Todd Jr has had this bear since before birth.

What to do, What to do.

Bear has been greatly loved.

And as Dat Dat pointed out last night, Bear was actually a little spot of laughter during a very dark time.

Oddly enough this was exactly what had popped into my head when the tears started coming.

When I was in the hospital, just after Esme was born, MeMe and Foe Foe brought Todd Jr., with Bear in tow, up to the hospital to see us.

Well, at one point, everyone had  gone down to the NICU to see Esme, and Foe Foe, Todd Jr and myself were in the room waiting for them to come back and Foe Foe noticed that there was a string coming from the end of Bear's nose.

I know it is hard to make out, but there is still a bit of it there.

Well, Foe Foe pulled out some nail clippers, I think, and took the string off.

Ummmm, Bad Move Foe Foe!!!!

Todd Jr., who was 2 1/2 at the time FREAKED OUT!

Honestly, he believed Bear had been mortally wounded.

I gotta admit, it was HYSTERICAL.

So, what will happen to Bear now?

Ultimately, I don't know.

First though, he will get a bath.

My football playing, "Demon Cougar" tough 9 year old brought me his Bear this morning and said, "Here Mom, he needs a bath."

Next, the Dr. recommended the freezer.

Yes, the freezer.. that is if he makes it out of the washing machine and dryer.

As for everything else.

There are prescriptions.

His pillows, mattress and box spring have to be completely encased in a hypoallergenic cover.

No books.

Everything in his closet that is not being used has to be out.

And of course, we will have to dust... very, very often.

By the way, that reminds me, I have to go clean his baseboards.

Anyone want to help?

Didn't think so.

Oops... How could I forget!

Yes, I just realized I forgot (not sure how that happened) to share our trip to the Magic Kingdom!

For completing the Walt Disney World Marathon Todd and I were able to participate in Marathon Monday.

We were given tickets to one park of our choice and since we were sure we could not get away with only the two of us going, we succumbed to the pressure and got tickets for the boys too...

Kids...

Our morning not only began with the alarm and excited children...

but screams of agony as our asphalt battered feet hit the ground.

To say we walked around the Magic Kingdom for 11 hours would be stretching it...

More like limping in an ibuprofen induced haze would be more like it!

After bidding Grammie and Dada Good bye...

Oh, by the way, we owe Grammie and Dada BIG TIME!!!!!!!!

They were so awesome to go with us and take care of the Triple Trouble!

It truly would not have been possible without them!

They ROCK!!!!!!!!

Finally, this wacky band of characters was on their way to the Magic Kingdom!

(Note the pedestal the boys are standing on... Todd and I should have been sitting on it!)

Our first stop was Adventureland...

Actually, that is a lie... our first stop was the Bakery on Main Street...

And 2 ENORMOUS Cinnamon Rolls...

Moving on....

The boys were super excited and ready to get the ball rolling.... get it...

They were ready to have a "BLAST"... I crack myself up!

First Attraction... Aladdin's Magic Carpet... 

Dat Dat sat this one out... 

Next was the world famous Jungle Cruise....

Grady was checking out the Gorillas..

Those Todd's and their handsome grins!

Next Stop.... The Tiki Room...

Because you can sit for a few minutes...

And if you are lucky enough to have no one sitting next to you, you can prop up your pain riddled feet. 

Then onto our MUST SEE every time... more than once...

Pirates of the Caribbean... and look who was there....

A bunch of Goofballs!!!!! 

Next, a photo just after leaving the Country Bears... again... an opportunity to sit...

And look who was on our path as we headed to Liberty Square....

Finally, it was time to visit the Hall of Presidents.

Grady kept asking me...

"Mommy, where is Barakan Obaman?"

After this, we went on to visit the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in the Haunted Mansion...

Remember, there is always room for one more....

I did a count.

We all made it out.

After this, it was time for lunch and that was good, cuz a storm was a coming!

So we sat at Cosmic Rays and waited for the sun to shine again.

Then, after spending some time in Tomorrowland, Dat Dat and Todd went on Space Mountain and the little boys and I rode the People Mover til we spotted this guy..

We all love Buzz!!!!

Even through the pain, the day seemed to race by.

We all had an amazing time and enjoyed every moment.

We did see the parade, rode Pirates again just before the fireworks and Todd and Todd even made it on Big Thunder twice.

So much fun.

It can really wear you out.

Thanks Walt... again, you made our day.



Hot Coffee!!!!

Hello Monday!

Hope everyone is enjoying their day off, spending it with family and maybe working a little toward realizing your own dreams on this day we recognize a man with a very big one.

Also, as it is a rainy, cold day here in Panama City, it can give you a little too much time on your hands to ponder those senseless aspects of life that go on around you.

Like, coffee...

Now we all know that this company...

Will soon be taking over the world... and now while I do like their Caramel Apple Spice...

Coffee, it just "ain't" my thing...

Me, I am more of a fizzy kinda girl.... 

Isn't it beautiful?

My other favorite drink, courtesy of Dat Dat and raging headache caused by a little red headed boy that will remain nameless....

Grady...

Sorry... 

IT GIVES YOU WINGS!!!!!!

Okay, back to the coffee... so while driving around town, I have noticed these decals on car windows.

I know I am no rocket scientist, but I consider myself slightly intelligent.

I have a four year degree.

It took me 5 plus years to get.

From a University in Alabama.

Never mind.

So, anyway, this decal... I know people love coffee and I guess they like it really, really hot because they keep driving around with a decal of a guy holding a coffee cup in his hand, with his head tilted to the side with flames coming out of his head.

See below... Todd is demonstrating... sans the flames... use your imagination.

Can't you see it too?

I told this to my loving husband a few weeks ago and it has been a great source of entertainment for him.

Because, as he brought to my attention, these people aren't driving around hunting this... 

They are hunting this... 

Oh the despair...

Yep, completely embarrassed.

(Especially since I grew up in South Alabama!)

Come on now... someone back me up on this!

I gotta go hunt down a Red Bull!!!!

Think I can find a decal for that?

Have a great day y'all!