My kids' shoes match their personalities!

"Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes."--Forrest Gump

Miss Jillian is apparently as passionate about shoes as she is about the rest of life. She managed to grunt and point her way into getting the shoes SHE had her eye on when we went shoe shopping a couple weeks ago.

Peddling around in a new pair of pink shoes Travis and I had picked out for her, Jillian was following the rest of us around the shoe store as we tried to find some shoes for Madalynn. She disappeared around the corner of one of the shoe shelves for a second, then came back with a box holding a pair of little brown and pink shoes.

"Uuuuh! Uuuuh!" She said to Travis, holding the box up for him. Travis took the box, and she promptly sat down and began trying to pull the pink shoes off. Travis and I were a bit puzzled, but finally figured out she found them on the clearance shelf right within her reach. Thankfully the shoes she obviously had her eyes on were her size!

Jillian got up and giggled and walked after Travis took the pink shoes off and put the ones she had picked on. We held the pink ones back up and asked, "Do you want to put these back on?" She shook her head "no" and pushed the pink shoes away.

Why can't every shopping trip be that easy?!

I asked the kids to pick out their favorite pair of shoes to model so I could take a picture of them for the blog.

Madalynn chose the pink boots that Holly gave her for Christmas. They have little fuzzies around the top. Princess Madalynn's hiking boots!

Justis picked an open-toed pair of sandals that easily slip on and off his feet, but stay put when he's running and playing. They are his favorite because he doesn't have to take too much time out of his playing to get them on and off.

Dawson chose his tropical flip flops. He'd rather not wear shoes at all, but when he has to, he prefers as little "shoe" as possible for the warm Louisiana weather. The tropical design and the fact that they're flip-flops match his laid-back personality.

Toto, We're NOT in Kansas Anymore!

"Did you learn your lesson, Jae?" Travis said in a completely serious voice.

His questions were the first words he'd spoken for a good hour. He had good reason to be silent for a while. Let me tell you why.

A Wizard of Oz-themed birthday party for my friend Rachel's little girl, Emma, had been our anticipated highlight of Saturday afternoon. Madalynn dressed as Dorothy Gale, Justis dressed as Scarecrow, and Dawson dressed as Tin Man rode with me as I drove Travis's car to the party. I had my Map Quest directions and an address in hand. The time was about 3:10 p.m. The party started at three but, as usual, we were going to be fashionably late.

The directions got me within 1/2-mile of their street, but I then got stuck and drove up and down the same road again and again, because I couldn't find the street. I had to turn onto a little dirt road before I could read the street sign, and it wasn't their street. I kept driving so I could find a place to turn around and curved around the little road into a run-down looking trailer park. The dirt road turned into a grass road at the dead end at the end of the trailer park, and I hate using a person's driveway as a turnaround, so I headed to the grass road to make my turn.

The open field beside the grass road at the dead end would make a good place to turn the car completely around, I decided. I pulled off onto the grass a bit and stopped, so I could put it in reverse to back up and then drive forward out of the trailer park.

The car didn't move at all when I put it in reverse, but my foot was on the gas. My stomach sank. I had a blonde moment and had totally forgotten that the ground in Louisiana is not hard like it is in fields in Kansas!

"Crap," I said. "Great. I think the car is stuck, kids."

Justis reminded me not to say crap again. I apologized and opened the door to assess the damage. My stomach sank some more.

Travis's beautiful, black 2007 Chevy Impala was stuck halfway up it's tires in the mud. Did I mention it's his company car? ADM intends on our family using it as a personal vehicle, but I doubt they ever dreamed Travis's wife would take it off-roading!

I stayed calm, pulled my feet in, shut the door and did the only thing I knew to do, try forward and see if it gets unstuck that way. No dice. I put it in forward, then reverse a couple of times, but the car had absolutely no traction in the sub-marsh mud it was in.

I pulled out my cell phone, which had a whopping one bar of charge. I knew I had one call's worth of charge, so it was between Travis (who was at home with Jillian) or Nick and Rachel, whom I knew lived close. I decided to call Nick and Rachel to see if I could get some help.

"Hello?"

"Nick?"

"Yes?"

"Nick, it's Jae. I'm having trouble finding your house and my car is stuck."

"Stuck?"

"Yes, stuck in the mud, and..."

The phone went off.

Trying to think quickly, I put the phone down to reassess the situation. I was a little disturbed to see two young men walking over to the car.

"Hey, can we give you a hand? Are you stuck?" one said.

"Yes, I'm stuck. I don't have the slightest idea how to get the car unstuck. This is my husband's car. I'm supposed to be taking the kids to a birthday party on Manor Street. Do you know where that is."

"Yah, it's just down the street that way," the other said.

The guys were nice and I could tell really did have the good intentions of helping.

"I don't know if we'll be able to do this," one guy said, "But, I'll go get a 2x4 and see what we can do."

They came back and tried putting it under the tire to get me some traction for making it out. The car still didn't budge.

"Thank you so much for trying to help. Do you think it would be okay to leave the car locked and here?"

The guys kind of looked at each other like it was not a safe place to leave the car, but they said, "We'll keep an eye on it. Don't worry about it."

"My kids and I are just going to walk down to the party. I'll call my husband from there and we'll come take care of it," I said.

"Are you sure you want to walk?"

I insisted. The day was beautiful, and although the men were nice, I'm not trusting enough to put me and my children in a car with them.

I began walking, birthday gifts in hand, with Dorothy, Tin Man and Scarecrow. The guys had told me how far down to walk and, sure enough, we found the street. We got some strange looks by people driving by!

Nick and Rachel were relieved to see us walk into the living room. I used the phone to call Travis.

"The car is stuck, Travis, and I'm going to need your help getting it out. You're going to have to come to Nick and Rachel's and I'll have to go back with you. It's in such a weird place I don't think I could give you directions."

"Stuck?" Travis asked, not knowing whether to laugh or scream at me. I could hear his blood pressure rising by the second as he talked to me. "I'll come at the end of the party and we can take care of it then. (Frustrated sigh) Jillian is still sleeping. Jae, I can't believe you!"

"I'm so sorry, Travis. I love you, bye."

"Bye." He said with no I love you.

We all piled into the van and I directed Travis to the scene of the accident. We rounded the corner of the trailer park. I cringed and shut my eyes, because I knew it was bad.

"Geeze, Jae! How in the heck did you do that?! What were you doing?" I started explaining, but he cut me off. "Nevermind," he snapped, "Let's work on getting it out.

We tried pushing, pulling and putting wood chips under the tires for traction. We even tied a rope onto the van hitch and to the underside of the car to pull it out, but the rope we were using snapped. Nothing worked.

"Just get in the van." Travis commanded. I got in and didn't say a word!

We drove home in silence and he didn't talk to me, except for communicating the very basics. I worked on getting supper started, until he told us to get ready to go meet the tow truck about thirty minutes after arriving back home.

We piled in the van again. We drove silently for a while.

That's when he asked me if I'd learned my lesson.

"I guess, I said," not exactly sure where to start. "I learned that grass fields are really mud fields in Louisiana, not like in Kansas where dirt is rock solid."

"Don't EVER drive off the road. EVER." he said. "We are in Louisiana and you don't ever drive off the roads. Stay on the road ALL the time."

I was making a mental note: "#1 Stay on the road!"

"What else?" he asked.

"I don't know what else," I said. "Not to drive into questionable-looking neighborhoods?" I guessed.

"Your cell phone. At least you had it this time, but you ALWAYS need to have it with you and charged! You NEED to have it charged, Jae."

My second mental note. "Drive with a CHARGED cell phone."

We arrived on scene again and met the tow truck. The guy gently lifted the car and had it out in minutes.

The other lesson I learned is that if I incur towing expenses, the money comes out of one the clothing fund. That's reason enough to take the cell phone and stay on the road next time!

We all got home safely and, although we weren't in the mood to chat much after my mindless driving predicament, Travis did give me a kiss and told me he loved me before we went to bed. He's a keeper if he can still love me after all that!

UNcooperative First Trip to Home School Co-Op!

Orientation for the kids' spring home school co-op was yesterday. The kids were successfully "orientated," and meeting their teachers and getting acquainted with their classmates went well. Getting the four of us there and making it out with everyone in one piece was a bigger challenge!

I scheduled in 1 hour for the 35-minute drive to Co-op, since it's better to be early than late. Dawson, who's been potty trained for over 6 months, pooped his pants at exactly 1:00, our scheduled leave time. We left at 1:15, a pair of clean pants and undies later, making it to co-op five minutes before the start of registration.

I took Madalynn and Justis around to their three classes, showing them each their classrooms (in order) so they'd be able to do it alone when the moms were in a meeting. I dropped Jillian and Dawson off without a hitch.

I peeked into each of their classes after the mom's meeting was over and decided to just go into the nursery and play with Jillian until the mock class-switching was over.

My friend Alicia, whom had been working in the toddler room, tapped me on the shoulder just as I reached out for Jillian.

"Jae," she said in one of those sympathetic mother kind of voices, "Dawson had an accident. He peed his pants."

"Are you kidding me?" I asked in disbelief. "This is his second accident today and he's been potty-trained for six months! I don't think I have any clean clothes for him, but I'll go to the van and double-check."

I turned to the nursery worker holding Jillian, "I'm so sorry, but I'll be right back, my other one had an accident."

I let the lady at the front table know I was stepping out to the van and quickly discovered when I got there that I didn't have any extra clothes for Dawson.

Jillian, screaming at the TOP of her lungs and being held by one stressed nursery worker, met me at the FRONT door of the church as I returned, and I could hear her screams through the glass before I even opened the door.

"She just started screaming when you left," she said loudly so I could hear her over Jillian's shrill scream.

"I'm so sorry," I said equally loudly, and took Jillian right away. The little stink shut the screaming off the second I took her!

The two of us started heading straight for the toddler room to pick up Dawson, when I realized I needed Jillian's stroller and diaper bag in the nursery. I walked into the nursery, and Jillian lost it again. We all cringed at her ear-piercing screams and they handed off the stroller as quickly as possible. I calmed Jillian down in the hall, put her in the stroller and went in to get Dawson.

Dawson, standing with wet shorts, was happily playing with the pretend kitchen when I got to the toddler room. I apologized to the teachers and assured them I would be bringing a change of clothing next time. They were very understanding, because they have kids and know the surprises they bring.

The last bell rang, so I went to pick up Madalynn in the science room first. I got to the door. No Madalynn. Other kids were there, but Madalynn was not. I tried not to panic, as I pushed the stroller and pulled Dawson along by the arm through the crowd of kids of moms.

I stood in the center of the front lobby, trying to see if I could pick Madalynn out of all of the people running around. I was panicking inside, but remained cool on the outside so I didn't upset Dawson and Jillian, too.

I heard familiar sobs, and turned to see a woman bringing Madalynn through the crowd.

"Madalynn, honey, what's wrong? Why didn't you wait for me to pick you up?"

"I don't know," she sobbed some more, I couldn't find you!"

"Honey did you tell anyone you were leaving or did you just leave to come find me?"

"I just left to come find you," she said.

"Next time wait for me. Never leave. I will always pick you up. I was scared because I didn't know where you were and I couldn't find you."

I told the lady thank you, and tried to calm Madalynn while I kept walking toward the door to pick up Justis. He was outside because he had just finished his playground games class.

I picked him up and then HE started crying!?

"Justis, what's the matter?" I asked, confused.

"I want to do my classes," he said.

"Today was just orientation, Justis. We were just pretending and finding our classes today. We're coming back next Tuesday to do it for real."

He cried and I explained and re-explained the orientation was over several more times before he then realized everyone else was leaving, too, and coming back next Tuesday.

I got the kids in the car, strapped them in, and they were sleeping before I got to the Interstate to head home.

Ahhhh. Peace and quiet. I was as tired as they were!

We went to bed early that night.

Real Life Vocabulary Lessons, By Dawson

Justis is trying to keep his balance while standing on a bar stool in the living room. Dawson is thoughtfully observing...

"Justis! You'd better get down from there! You could fall and go to the hospital and crap your head open!"

Dawson always has what we call "plumbers butt" and we can always see his crack. Travis and are always asking him to come over so we can pull up his pants. When he asks why, we tell him, "So people won't see your crack!"...

"You're a butt crap, Mom!" Dawson says, laughing.

"WHAT?!!!!!"

Dawson looks at little confused and a little afraid but very aware that whatever it was he said pushed Mommy's buttons. He ponders and decides that being goofy and getting a raise out of Mom is worth a spanking.

"You're a butt crap, Mom!" He said, grinning.

"Son, it's butt CRACK," I said quickly before turning my head so he wouldn't see me laughing.

(A firm swat on the rear from Daddy) "You do not ever call Mommy or anyone else that again!"

Geaux Tigers!

LSU fans are still celebrating the Tigers' 2008 BCS Championship Game win against the Ohio Buckeyes. The French Quarter didn't even "close" last night, from what Travis heard this morning at work (I didn't know it ever closed!). The Tigers beat the Buckeyes 38-24 to become the National Champions.

My loyalties still go to the Wildcats and Travis is still loyal to the Huskers, but it sure was fun to see our state's team become National Champions. Travis, being contrary as usual, was cheering for Ohio State last night. Whatever. He claims he is a TRUE Yankee. Whatever that is?! I should have dared him to walk through the French Quarter in an Ohio State shirt on last night. We'd see about all that Yankee talk then! He! He!

New Orleans has been a busy place since Thanksgiving, and the party was far from over New Years Day! New Orleans hosted two college football bowl games as well as the 2008 National Championship Game. The New Orleans Bowl was played on December 21st, when Florida Atlantic beat Memphis 44-27. The Sugar Bowl was held in the Superdome as well and hosted Georgia and Hawaii, with Georgia winning 41-10.

The state of Louisiana would be awarded National Champion if hardest-partying state was a competition! I'm guessing things will "wind down" a bit after Mardi Gras, which is February 5th.

Christmas-in-a-Box

One thing UPS doesn't box and ship is precious time with family for the holidays!

Nothing can replace being together with ALL of our family for the holidays, but when togetherness with my family was not possible this year UPS, the telephone and the blog kept us connected.

When the box from my parents arrived at our house the Thursday after Christmas, we got to have Christmas all over again!

Miss Jillian got a Jack-in-the-Box and a set of stacking blocks. We all giggled as she anticipated Jack coming out of the box when the song was being cranked to the end!

Dawson got a talking alphabet puzzle and bathtub boats with real battery-powered motors. He now wants to take baths just so he can play with his boats!

Madalynn is officially in Hannah Montana heaven. Grandma and Grandpa Chadd gifted her with a Hannah Montana DVD to go with her two dolls and CD she received earlier. Pre-cut squares of colorful felt fabric came in a "Knot a Quilt" kit for her to tie together and make a blanket, which is perfect for our crafty Madalynn.

Justis got a Spiderman web-slinger, and the gift most coveted by his brother and sisters, a McDonalds play set! He pointed it out to my mom in a toy catalog several times. Justis is our office, house, post office, and grocery store make-believer, so what better a gift than a McDonalds play set? The set came complete with a headset to take a drive-through order with, a cash register (that works!) with a key and miniatures of all of the classic McDonald's foods. Of course, the set would not be complete without a McDonald's visor, which lets us all know whom we need to pay for our food! :)

Candle sconces and a shelf to go beside my whirlpool tub were my favorites. I now have a more serene haven for taking a peaceful bubble bath. Calgon, take me away!

Travis's face lit up when he held up one of his gifts, a t-shirt with a guitar pick in the center of the shirt that says, "Pick Jesus."

Thanks, Mom and Dad for Christmas-in-a-Box! We're looking forward to our next visit together!

New Year Hobo Dinners

Happy 2008!

The only big change we've made in our house since midnight is restoring the living room to pre-Christmas decor.

We spent New Years Eve (day) in Gonzales at the outlet mall helping the kids spend their Christmas money from Grandma Leach (more about that in the next blog), then we ate a late lunch in Baton Rouge and went to Sam's Club to stock up. We were all exhausted. The kids were in bed by 8:00. Travis and I watched "We are Marshall," and were in bed by 11:30.

A "Hobo Dinner" is what we eat for lunch on New Year's Day. It's a tradition. I don't know what significance the Hobo Dinner has to New Year's Day, if any. I don't even know if the tradition started with my mom or my grandma. All I know is it's a fun, yummy tradition, so I've chosen to carry it on with our family.

Mom used to make the hobo dinners and put them in the oven while we "undecorated" and took down the Christmas tree. We did the same thing today. Here's the recipe for a hobo dinner:

Hobo Dinners

1 lb. ground beef
2-3 large potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
2-3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 onion cut into rings
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take 4-5 pieces of heavy duty foil* Spray each piece of foil with non-stick baking spray. Form the ground beef into hamburger patties. Layer your ingredients on each piece of foil by putting on a pile of potatoes, then a hamburger patty (salt and pepper it), then put on a few onion rings, put on some sliced carrots and then top that off with some more potatoes. Salt and pepper the whole pile, then repeat layers if you're feeling hungry and want two burgers instead of one. Seal the packets well and put all the packets onto one baking sheet and into the oven. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours (1 hour for one hamburger patties, 1 1/2 hours for two).

* Tear off a piece of foil per each person you plan to serve. Wrap packets in two sheets of regular foil if you do not have heavy duty foil.