The sleepover.

What has sixteen legs, giggles hysterically, likes High School Musical and karaoke and slides down stairs in a sleeping bag?

Eight 8 year old girls at a spend the night birthday party.

So, Ally wanted a sleepover and I agreed. I spent the week making invitations, sewing eye masks and pillowcases and cleaning. Ally wanted a cookie cake and make your own pizzas. Easy enough. She invited 10 girls - 1 no, 2 got sick at school and didn't make it, 2 couldn't spend the night and 1 got homesick. Everybody got along pretty well and seemed to have a great time. Activities included sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags, making pizzas, watching High School Musical 3, drawing on pillowcases, eating cake and ice cream, opening presents, playing with Aqua Sand, playing some game in the dark upstairs, going to sleep really late, waking up really early, eating pancakes and playing outside.

How I get the house cleaned.

The Gardens.

Ben's workation came to an end and we abruptly thrust him into family bonding. Friday afternoon we spent some quality family time at the Botanical Gardens. The weather was perfect and all of Huntsville agreed the best place to be was climbing tree houses.

I'm happy to say we all survived and we even got to see some friends along the way. Especially one of my favorite people in the world(other than family!) - Sara Jane Tarter. She was my 2nd grade and 5th grade teacher. Best teacher in the world and sweetest lady ever. Also saw Hayden's teacher. She will be working at the Garden's next year. It is a wonderful opportunity for her, but I hate to see her leave WCA. It is amazing that neither has children, yet they both have the gift to teach.

I digress. After spending a couple of hours in the great outdoors, we continued our family time with Pizza buffet. Ben got to say good bye to his buddy who is moving to Colorado. I think we might still be there if it hadn't been for our kids trying to turn cartwheels in the booth.

Our big night ended with some wrestling, baths and bed. Sam's would have to wait until Saturday.

Deep sea fishing or flat tire?

Ben was on another "workation" this week. This week just happened to be Spring Break. And where did the poor soul have to spend his time? West Palm Beach. I know. Just awful. His accommodations were, however, slightly under "par" as his room looked out over the driving range and not the golf course at the PGA National Resort and Spa.

And that gift certificate to the spa he received upon arrival was barely enough to cover a bikini wax. You'll have to ask him about that.

So I suppose you might be asking what little goodies did they have for him at this Leadership conference? Just a Kindle. You know the little book reading thing that costs a couple hundred dollars.

And who do you suppose was the entertainment for the big dinner? Dennis Miller . . . the comedian.

I'm not jealous. My accommodations for the week looked out over grass too. I don't intend on wearing a bikini so I don't need a gift certificate to a spa. I really don't like to read so a Kindle would be useless. And I don't think I possess the manners or ability to stay up late for a fancy dinner anymore. So it really wouldn't be that great a trip for me. However. I must admit his "outing" was much more fun than mine(even if I do get seasick).

His consisted of a nice leisurely afternoon of deep sea fishing. Blue waters and a big catch.

Mine consisted of a frantic afternoon with a flat tire. Blue tears and a big nail.

The zoo was a zoo.

Really. Half price Tuesday of Spring Break. I'm just so glad we blended in with all the other crazy families. It was a really fun day even if most of the animals were too cold to come out.

The monkeys were our favorite. Got some good close ups to reinforce Hayden's current science study of body parts and their functions.

It was good to be outside and laugh.

I am going to be in BIG trouble!

The truth is out. We have no "boy" toys in our house. No cars. No trucks. No spiderman. Nothing. The poor little guys have to play with Ally's American girl doll.

In a rush to get the dolls put back, I misplaced her tights. Don't tell Ally.

I am not smarter than a 2nd grader.

Ben and I have been trying to come up with a way to help Ally focus when she needs to without denying her the time to daydream and be totally care free. Every so often, I read. Yes. Me. I was given a book and told "it" might be a good one in helping us come up with ways of using scripture, stories, etc. to "discipline and direct" our kids. So I tried it today. Here is how it all played out.

I was in the kitchen helping Hayden study for a language test. Ally, Caleb and Joshua were in the living room watching a show appropriate for a 3-4 year old. (Ben is "workationing" in Florida).

I had mentioned a couple of times to Ally that she get a piece of paper and pencil so I could call out her spelling words for her to practice. After not even getting a "in a minute, Mom", I decided it was time to implement the new technique: a story. I told Ally to come into the kitchen I had a story for her. She bit. And so I began to weave:

Once upon a time there lived a little girl. She lived in the most beautiful place, right next door to the most beautiful castle. Day after day she dreamed of getting to go inside the castle to look around. One day the King decided he would open up his home for anyone to see, but only for one day.

The next morning the little girl set off on the path to the castle. Along the way she would step off to smell a flower or watch a bird. But she would quickly remind herself that her dream was to see the castle and this was her one chance. It would be too late tomorrow. She continued on stopping to watch a squirrel play in the leaves or a fox to chase it's tail. Oh and those wonderful flowers. Before she knew it, it was lunchtime. She decided to sit and have a picnic but would immediately get back on path once she was finished. Seeing the inside of the castle was her goal and it would be too late tomorrow.

After lunch she continued down the path occasionally stopping to smell the flowers or to watch a pretty bird glide through the sky. She would look up at the sky and count the clouds. She reminded herself that she needed to get back on the path to the castle since that is what she wanted to do today. That was her goal and tomorrow would be too late.

She walked for a while until she saw the most wonderful butterfly skipping from flower to flower. Oh how much fun it was having. She stepped off the path just enough to almost catch it, but it made its way to the next flower. She followed it. It flew this way and that, almost letting her catch it, then zipping off to the next stop. Before she knew it she was way off path. It was getting dark and there would be no way for her to get to the castle. She had forever missed her chance. She hadn't reached her goal and now it was too late.

I told Ally that she was the little girl and although not as glamorous or fun as the castle, her goal was to study for her spelling test. Tomorrow would be too late. All the toys, TV shows, DS games etc. were like the flowers, butterfly, birds and clouds. The little girl could have done all those things any time she wanted, but the castle was a one time thing. Your spelling test is a one time thing. Tomorrow would be too late. Do you understand?

Her eyes glistening , fully enthralled in what I was saying, responded, " Yes, I get it. Can you tell me another one. That was fun."

I also got a "Mom, that was a good story" from Hayden.

Thanks girls. Glad I could entertain you.