Domestic Adventures

When our old vacuum cleaner died, we went back and forth again and again. Do we get the el cheap-o Costco special, or do we spend mega-bucks on a Dyson that we will utterly love and have forever - well, as much as you can love a vacuum, anyway. We went with the Costco special, figuring that if it was a bad choice, at least it wasn’t an expensive bad choice, and while it’s okay, I can see why a higher quality vacuum cleaner might be desirable. Next time, we might go the expensive route.
In the meantime, check out 5 Minutes for Mom’s contest to win a new Dyson slim. They tell all about Dyson’s latest, and offer a sign up to win one. Good luck!

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“Mommy, Mommy, come look at our tree! It’s got a surprise!” Emmaline announced as she galloped back indoors today. She was so delighted to find little white flowers all over our tangelo tree. Even though the tree only produces 3 or 4 tangelos a year, it’s covered in blossoms and I love their fragrance. I almost want to snip off a branch to enjoy inside. Would that help or hurt its fruit-bearing potential?

Micah says… “I want beer!”
Micah means… “I want pear!”

Micah says… “I suck!”
Micah means…”I’m stuck!”

Simple and fun. Someone at the Cherry Blossom Festival had the brilliant idea to just set our boxes of chalk all along the sidewalk and let the kids at it. When they were finished drawing, they each got a goodie bag with some candy and a small box of sidewalk chalk. Winter Park should do this at Park Avenue some time. Until then, we’ll be decorating our own stretch of sidewalk.

“Uh, oh, I bless you-ed all over myself.”

and…

“Mmm! I can’t stop yumming this fudge!”

We’re back from our impromptu little trip. I’m so glad we went. It was such a relaxing fun time. There’s something about a trip like this that makes me say, “yes” to my kids more often. Something that makes me laugh instead of grump, and lets me walk at their pace without getting impatient. I need to bring that vacation mentality home with me!
Even though we were only gone a few days, it seems like we did a lot. After our afternoon rest Saturday, we headed back in town to tour the Cannon Ball House; an historic home from the 1850’s which had a cannon ball crash through the front wall and fail to explode during the Civil War. We walked back through the arts and crafts tents and on to the carnival where Emmaline and Trent rode on the ferris wheel. Next door to that was a park with a great playground, then we walked back to Coleman Hill for a concert and fireworks.
After two late nights, we decided to sleep in Sunday morning before a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We went back to the festival so the kids could join in the sidewalk chalk drawing under the cherry trees, then made a few quick purchases at the craft fair (really yummy fudge!). As we drove around Macon looking at all the cool old homes, we found a beautiful little park and stopped there for a while before beginning our drive home.
Now we’re back and feeling quite refreshed!

This is been a rather crazy week; so when we read a blurb about Macon, Georgia’s Cherry Blossom Festival, it seemed like just the thing to do. We jumped in our car about 8pm last night, and arrived here very, very late. Our apparently nocturnal children only slept for about an hour and half of the drive.
Today is beautiful! This morning we enjoyed brunch under the cherry trees and strolled among the arts and crafts booths at the festival. Among our finds was a man who makes all sorts of wooden cars and trucks. We couldn’t resist a little green tractor for Micah.
Emmaline’s special moment was being chosen to win a porcelain angel music box at one of the artist booths. The artist and her assistant choose one child to receive this gift at each show, and Emmaline stole their hearts.
This afternoon, we are lounging in our hotel room watching VeggieTales, and hopefully reserving energy for some evening events.

Sometimes brushing the kids’ teeth before bed is something of an olympic event. After convincing Emmaline to brush her own teeth, I gather up Micah and make funny noises at him until he opens his mouth wide enough. Sometimes the effect is more comical than useful, and last night was one of those nights. Say, “ahhhh,” I coaxed. Micah opened his mouth wide until the moment before the brush was in his mouth, then he snapped it closed before rolling around in my arms giggling with the hilarity of it all. By this time, Emmaline needed more prompting, so I encouraged her to keep brushing before turning back to Micah. Lo and behold, the toothpaste on his brush was gone! I looked on the floor, in the sink, on my clothes, on his clothes. No toothpaste. Oh well, another squirt of blue gel and we managed to finally get his teeth clean.
This morning as I was getting Micah dressed, I found his hair all stuck together in the back. “What on earth is this?” I asked as I wet his hair. The mess was mostly white, but as I worked a comb through it blue chunks started to loosen and come out. Ahh, the mysterious disappearing toothpaste. Micah is one of those rare individuals who can go to bed with a glob of toothpaste in his hair and not even care.

Check out this handy tip from Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. I am constantly having to moderate all sorts of crazy spam comments. If this works, I will love her forever!