Sick Day

We have had quite a few bugs run through the Ball Team House this winter. But Josephine knows how to have a sick day, right? All you need is the TV clicker, the XBox controller and a juice cup. Speedy recovery, Jo.

Josephine all set. ---- Ten minutes later.

Happy Birthday, Doc

Dr. Seuss was born today in 1904 - wow, a world without the internet. For no reason in particular, I have included a poll. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss? Here's my pick:

Try this website, here, for games and books from Dr. Seuss.

Birthday Idea....Cry For Help....

I had an idea tonight. Could anybody help me? Here goes:

My daughter Rachel will be 11 on the 14th of March. She has a collection of gift cards. They are the cards you see in stores, lots of designs, and you can put money on them to give them as a gift. Her cards are empty; she only collects them for the fun of it. Whenever she has picked up cards at a store, the store employees either say nothing, or say, hey, did you see this one? There are some really unique ones out there - some have images that "move", some have spinners and moving parts, some have holiday themes, or famous people on them. She has some from WalMart, Target, Old Navy, Hobby Lobby, Sears, KMart, Tropical Smoothie, Kroger, McDonald's, Burger King, Sonic, Home Depot and Lowe's. I'll guess she has about 200 now - two binders full (she keeps them in baseball card holders in a three ring binder).

So, here's my idea - if you live "far off" and can pick her up some, I would love to reimburse you for your postage and effort! Maybe you have a store there that we don't have here - like Macy's, Ikea or Albertson's. She doesn't have any from Pier One or In N Out Burger!

What can you find? Thank You!

Happy Birthday, Jay

His First Birthday. Wow. That was a fast year. Jay was born at 9 am on Friday, February 20, and by that day at noon, he had already taken his first helicopter ride to the Arkansas Children's Hospital. His lungs were underdeveloped, and he stayed in the NICU for two weeks. That ordeal seems so long ago, especially when I am now chasing this little man down the hallway because he slips away from me while I am trying to change his diaper. He is healthy and strong and almost walking. He loves to be with people and he chatters non-stop. He sleeps through any commotion we might have going on in the house and he loves to eat. What a great addition to our family of ladies - our Prince James.

James and Jay --- Jay in the NICU

Happy Birthday, Jay!

Jay Is One!!!

How To Eat A Birthday Cake:

Pay It Forward

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me (yeah for handmade!).
2. If you are one of the first three to make a comment, you are a winner! And you then agree to post this challenge on your own blog, meaning that you will pay it forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember it’s the spirit and the thought that count!
4. When you receive your gift, blog about it! If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! It's all about paying it forward.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Chug, chug, chug ...

I was rolling along the highway today, all five kids in tow. We had just been to the $1 movie theatre, which is only 50 cents if you see the first movie of the day on Mondays. Today we had no school, so to honor President's day, I spent 50 cents per ticket and took the gang to see Bolt. Cute movie; I recommend it. I digress...

We had just seen a movie and were headed home when the car starts to sputter. I knew exactly what was happening, since I saw my empty gas light go on two days ago. Since that time I played the "how much gas do I really have" game and I was winning for a while. Not today. While we are sputtering to the exit ramp, I say to the ladies - "Okay, feel that shaking from the car? That's what it feels like before you run out of gas."

So we are off the highway, at an intersection, a busy one, of course, and the car will go no further. I say to the kids - "Okay, Rae and Sam, you get out and push." I get nothing but blank stares. "Okay", I say, "you steer and I'll push." More blank stares.

Charlotte says, "Just call Dad, Mom. He'll come fix it." (So cute.)

Rachel and Samantha then catch the spirit of adventure and suddenly jump out of the van and start to push. Rachel tells me later that she didn't realize it would be so easy - she thought vans were heavier!

Next, a strange man is at my window. He says, "You just steer; we're close." Rachel and Samantha are now literally running behind the van down the street and through the intersection, while about four men are pushing me to the gas station. A few minutes later, I am pumping gas and waving furiously to the men who were just pushing me and my still wonder-struck children to safety. Such is the kindness of strangers. Thank you, thank you!

As a post script, can I just add that I love living in a small town. As I am pumping gas, a friend from church (Elizabeth B.) drives right up to me and says, "Tina, do you always make your kids run behind the van?"