The Queen B

Pancake Limit

Ok.  First of all.  If any of you watch The Voice, were you disturbed by Cee lo's light-up teeth?

I didn't get it.  He couldn't speak clearly.  Or sing clearly.  Or whatever.

Potentially nightmare inducing.

Moving on.

The Princess has gone 14 years without trying one of my favorite nasty junk food items.

Tonight, she was introduced to the strawberry wafer.

Delish.

Well.  Delish to a point.

The Princess took a bite and said "That is amazingly wonderful styrofoam-ish stuff!"

Which kind of makes me feel like a bad parent.

But we proceeded to eat several styrofoam wafers.

And then we felt like we'd eaten too many pancakes.

And kind of like we might explode.

So we will probably not eat another strawberry wafer for 14 more years.

BUT.

They were amazingly wonderful for a few bites.

What's your favorite nasty junk food?

If You Need A Last Minute Souvenir

So The Princess and I had to be out of town for a school thing last week and spent the night in a hotel.

Nothing fancy.

Just a regular one night in another city kind of hotel.  Not necessarily a motel.  But not necessarily a hotel. You know?

This sign was sitting on the "coffee table".  

Again, this was not a swanky place.

I'm thinking the next time I need a wedding gift, I'll just call and ask for a $20 motel ice bucket.  It'll be a hit.

And why does the hand towel cost more than the bath towel?

I texted the picture to The King after I'd studied it for a few minutes.

His reply?

"How big is the television?"

 

Snow, Waffles, Chocolate & Panic

I would have posted sooner, but we were buried under 2 feet of snow.

And I was forced to lay on the couch and do very little.

That is only partly true.

We did receive 2 feet of snow.

When multiplied by the Arkansas factor, that equals roughly 47 feet of snow.

And "forced" might be a small exaggeration.  

But The Palace did enjoy a few weeks of rest and relaxation.

Now, however, I've got a tiny little favor to ask.

The Princess is doing a school project on the country of Belgium.

We are very aware of the waffle & the chocolate.

(We especially are aware of them in combination, but that is a different post.)

She's researching other stuff.  

The issue:  She has to wear native attire.

I don't sew.  Or live in Belgium.  Or know anyone who lives in Belgium.  

And what I see online looks kind of like Little Red Riding Hood.  

Currently, we are not seeing a lot of LRRH get-up at the local shopping venues.

So...help?  Suggestions?  

And did I mention it's due in 2 weeks...?

I'm Good With Nothing

I have to tell you...I am so ok with nothing dramatic happening here.  

All I have to share is a whole lot of daily stuff.  

 

1.  I think I never told you that I got braces on my bottom teeth.  

It is just for a short time.  

(Hallelujah.)

I had an appointment today.  They had to put on a new wire. 

Unfortunately, the only colors they had were PURPLE OR LIME GREEN.

Which do you think I chose...? 

2.  Is it ironic that the NASTY & DISGUSTING smell that I couldn't find in my refrigerator was coming from a lemon?

 3.  The Princess turned 13 last week.  

I cannot believe that this child...

...has grown in to this young lady.

I am so proud of her.  She is such a great kid.  She has handled so much stuff this year with laughter and grace.  

Happy Birthday, Princess.  

 

4.  We went to Dallas last weekend for her birthday.  My friend, Lacey, shares a birthday with The Princess, so she & Jason joined us on the celebration trip.

While we were shopping for jeans, the store lady asked me if I was shopping with my girls.  

I said yes, thinking she meant, like, shopping with my homies or something.

Then she said the words that ruined my weekend, if not my life.

"They're both your daughters?"

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?

If I'd had her when I was 5 1/2!

That day will forevermore be known as "The Day The Anti-Wrinkle Regimen Began".

You've no idea how much junk I've slathered on my face & neck.  

I'm in a constant state of glisten.

(Needless to say, I didn't buy any of her stinkin' jeans.)

 

5.  I think I don't really have a 5.  

I was going to (finally) post a picture of my tattoo, but I'm too lazy to get up and get the camera.  

I guess that's to be expected with my advancing age.  

 

This Totally Bugs

Well it's the second week of school and already we have a project.

Of course.

It's a bug collection.  

I've got to tell you, it is not my thing.

The Princess has a killing jar.

And a few killing ziplocs.

The unlucky little fella goes in with a cotton ball soaked in killing juice.

The idea is for the fella to meet his maker.

The reality is that he is still wiggling (& occasionally pooing) 3 days later.

The Princess thinks the kitchen is the best place to keep the killing jars/ziplocs.

I disagree.

We finally had to move the poor cricket to the garage because of the incessant chirping.

INCESSANT.  CHIRPING.

Please don't give me any junk about the bug killing.

I didn't assign it.

Did I mention she has to have 30 bugs?

Any tips?  Suggestions?  Please?

It's That Time Again

My mom and grandmother came to town today to take The Princess school supply shopping.

She has been so excited for this day to arrive.  She seriously loves school supply shopping day.  

(She may or may not have tried to convince her grandmother that an iPad, American Eagle jeans, new converse shoes & a few pairs of earrings were on the official supply list.)

The Princess has already finished labeling and organizing her new school stuff.

And I've got to admit...I'm a little jealous.

Except for that school part.

I love new pens, pencils, paper & planners. There's just something about the fresh start of a new school year that is so appealing to me.

As adults, we really don't have too many things with official beginning/ending dates. Dates where something is entirely completed before something new begins.  

But wouldn't that rock?

Today is the official close of my 17th year of cooking.  For the next 3 months, I will be on hiatus.  Cooking will resume on September 14.  

The laundry year will wrap up this Friday.  Please be sure all of your unmentionables are collected by 5 p.m. or they will be donated to charity.

Let's try to end this grocery shopping year strong!  Be sure and submit your list to Mom on Monday in order to get what you need for winter!

A girl can dream, right?

I really have tried to think of areas that I can apply this principle at home...

Maybe I could clean out/organize my recipes.

Or get my filing in order.

Or whip my closets into shape. 

But seriously.  Not quite as much fun as a new notebook.

What do you do to pretend you have a fresh start?

Good Stuff

To prove that God has a sense of humor, guess what play The Princess performed in this weekend?

Annie.

Like, the orphan.

In an orphanage.

The Princess played the bossy, bully orphan.

Hmmm?  Where have I met her before?

The Princess did an amazing job.  I was so proud of her.  All of the kids did an amazing job...5 sold out performances!

I'd post a picture if I knew where The King's camera was currently located.

Speaking of bossy orphans...I've got an amazing story to share with you.

So.

The week before last, I had this major sense that I was to pray for La P.  Not a general type prayer, but a very specific prayer.

I felt that I was to pray for a miracle.

On Sunday morning (a week ago) I looked up several verses about asking God for specific things.  Those scriptures caused me to feel even more strongly that I was to pray for a miracle.

Sunday evening, our small group from church met.  During prayer time, I wrote a tiny note to The King and asked him if I should speak.  He nodded.

I began to spill.  I told my friends how I felt.  That I thought God was telling me to specifically pray for a miracle regarding La P.  Our group prayed together.  We prayed for hearts to soften.  For movement.  For the truth to prevail.  For La P.

On Tuesday, The King had just walked in the door from work when one of the missionaries from the orphanage called.  

I need to hold off on the details for now, but here's the end result...the orphanage suspected that they'd possibly received some misinformation.  The King was asked to come meet with them and we were told that we were welcome any time.  

We've spent the last 2 months thinking that we'd never see La P's sweet face again.  

Today, The King flies to Guatemala.

I'm amazed.  So grateful.  So hopeful.

Please pray for safe travel for The King.  Pray for a great meeting.  Especially pray for his time with La P.  It's been 4 months since he's seen her.  There's always that teeny worry of whether she'll remember/know us.  She has no idea of what has gone on the past few months.  Thank goodness.

We feel so strongly that she is ours.  Ultimately, though, we just want what is best for her. 

God is so good.

A Whole Lot Of Nothing

Hey.

Thanks for the prayers and advice last week.  I am following what many of you suggested...I'm just waiting.

Kind of taking the "no news is good news" approach.

We'll see how that works out.

***

Look at what my freaky cats are doing as I type.

Completely disturbing.

I'm imagining the worst. 

What could be in the fireplace?

A rat?  A bat?  A snake?  

They've been staring at the same spot for 20 minutes.

Weirdos.

***

Two of my friends just returned from Casa.

Wanna see some new pictures of La P?

It thrills me to see her sweet face!

My friend told La P "The Princess (her real name) is mi amiga" thinking that it would be a bonding moment.  

Instead, La P got a teensy bit possessive and said, "NO!  The Princess (her real name) is MI amiga!"

The Princess is thrilled.

33 days until we see her again!!!

***

The paint should finally happen this week.

Which is what I've said for the last 2 weeks.

***

My next housing dilemma is the mantle.  

I want a really cool mantle.  

But not a really expensive mantle.

My fireplace is antique red brick.

Any thoughts?

Paint Delays, Cows & VBS

I know this will come as a shock, but the painting has been postponed until Wednesday. 

Though you can barely stand it, you'll have to wait for the results.

***

You may remember that I have a mild fascination/obsession with cows.

I could watch them all day.  

In fact, I suspect there will be days that I do nothing but stare at the cows.

Their ears thrill me.

Thrill.  Me.

So we went to check out the farm over the weekend.

Turning into the gate, I was immediately welcomed by the loudest mooing I've ever heard.

Constant mooing.

Loud & constant mooing.

We drove around the barn and I realized what was happening.

The calves were being weaned.

Oh my goodness.

The babies were on one side of the fence and the mamas were on the other. 

They were crying.

It broke my heart.

Some of them sounded hoarse from the loud & constant.

This is the worst picture known to man, but I need you to feel my pain.

We went back to the farm the next day and it was still happening.

Only now, the kids were acting out.

There was head butting.  Lots and lots of head butting.

The King thinks I'm weird.

***

And this is VBS week at our church.

Please don't judge me for what I'm about to share.

I mean it.

No judging.

I don't necessarily enjoy the VBS.

Well.  I don't.

Teaching is not my thing.

Guilt, however, is my thing.

There are never enough adults to go around.

I may have been a teensy bit grumpy on our way to VBS yesterday.  

The Princess said, "Mom.  Since when did telling kids about Jesus put you in a bad mood?"

"Um.  Today?"

I totally know that VBS is the only place some of the kids will hear about Jesus. 

Once I get there, I can get into it.  The kids are really sweet.  

Though they do touch you a lot.

But they are sweet. 

It goes by fast.

There are snacks.

Our church does a great job preparing for the week.

It's just the every day part of it that wears me out.

I do get to wear a toga/bedsheet.  Which means more snacks!

Don't tell me I'm rotten.  

Guilt is my thing, remember?

***

I hope your Tuesday is fantastic.

*I have no idea why this post's spacing has gone crazy.  If it looks nutty on your computer.  If not, then ignore this.

All Sorts Of Things

Hello.

Sorry I bailed on most of the blogging last week.

I cannot thank you enough for your sweet response to The Princess' La Princesa bracelets.

Guess how many we have to mail?

92.

For real.

Isn't that awesome?

92 people praying for La Princesa's adoption.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

The Princess is overwhelmed with string.

Seriously.  

But she's had such a sweet attitude about it.

I haven't heard her complain at all.

Not once.

I asked her if she regretted us mentioning the bracelets, and she immediately said no.  She is thrilled that people would be willing to pray for La Princesa.

Won't that be a cool thing to tell La Princesa when she's older?

So if you've requested a bracelet...please be patient.  We're hoping to get them all out by the end of the week.

Y'all rock.

***

Yesterday, I made the mistake of going to the grocery store while hungry.

The result?

Really?  

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches?

Yes.  Really.

When The King came home, I showed him my purchase.

He immediately tore into one and said, "That's weird.  I kind of taste marshmallow".

  

Really?

Yes.  Really.

***

Wanna see something sweet?

Last week, one of the missionaries at Casa sent us a new picture of La Princesa.

She pulled our picture from her pillow and showed it to him.

I know.  

Breaks my heart to pieces.

Off to braid more string...