Saturday.

Saturdays are usually filled with chores, errands, Bubba's soccer or basketball games, and some procrastinating.  This Saturday was none of those things. (Well, maybe the procrastinating.)  There is much to do around here...and we had a whole Saturday to do it--but we didn't.  Guilt wants to creep in, but I won't let it.  We had a spontaneously fun day...and that is what we needed.

The morning started slowly, waking up leisurely, chatting and laughing long before our feet hit the floor.  Then we remembered that it was free-breakfast-day-at-Chick-Fil-A!  We hurried to wake up sleeping beauty and get dressed and ended up joining my sister and her fam and some friends for some chicken and visiting.

Pickle and I decided we wanted to attend an event at Focus on the Family where the Duggars (of TLC fame--19 kids and counting) were speaking and making an appearance that afternoon.  Pickle is a big fan and I figured there could be a lot worse choices of reality stars to meet, so why not indulge her?  We missed out on getting tickets to the event (I snoozed and lost--oops) so I agreed to buy Pickle their book so we could attend the book signing they were doing afterwards.

We had a great time.  They were all there (minus their youngest, Josie) and sat at a super long table, signing and greeting.  Pickle's first exciting moment was seeing the TLC crew filming and recognizing them from TV (from Jon and Kate plus 8 she thinks).  It got even better when they filmed her asking a question for the Duggars to answer on their show.  I had to sign a release for them to use the footage if they choose.  Then we spoke with and met almost all of the super-family, and they signed Pickle's book.  I especially enjoyed meeting Michelle Duggar, she exuded warmth and joy and genuineness.  And she looks fantastic for  a woman who has birthed and raised 19 kids.  It was a totally fun afternoon.

To top the day off, we got to visit with our friends who just had a baby.  Remember Becky and the shower I posted about?  Well, the little guy arrived on Wednesday and it was such a joy to meet him and hold him.  We shared an impromptu dinner together, played with his big sister (who is not quite two) and got to visit a good while.  He is precious.  There really is nothing like holding a new and tiny baby.

the only picture we took of baby Jackson

It was a lovely, unplanned, relaxing and fun Saturday.  My house remains a mess, but sometimes it's worth it.

What did you do this weekend?

Not Me! Monday

Today I am participating in Not Me! Monday inspired by McKmama's site, where we are brutally honest and live to tell about it. I'd like to tell you what I didn't do this weekend.

I did not procrastinate away too many hours doing nothing important Friday morning and leave all of my busy day stuff until the afternoon. Not me!

I did not go shopping for my sister and friend's birthdays on the day of and the day after said birthdays. Nope--not me, I plan ahead.

my sweet friend Beth, whose birthday I did not shop a day late for

I did not leave my house messy for a full week after our bout with swine flu--even though I was feeling better. I was not overwhelmed by the disaster left in the piggy's wake.

In the mad rush to get our house somewhat presentable for friends to come over Friday night (after I did not cause myself to be in a rush by the nothing-doing in the morning and did not leave my house a disaster for no good reason), I did not, I repeat did NOT, scoop up the mess and put it all in a rubbermaid tub in my bedroom rather than putting things away. I did not forget to run the dishwasher the night before and this did not cause me to take a bucket of dirty dishes upstairs and put them in my tub (a first, honestly!) right before friends came over. Not me! I am more together than that.

I did not tell our guests what I had done with the dishes. :) That would be embarrassing.

I did not laugh until my sides hurt with my friends on Friday night. I did not get such a kick out what some would describe as jr. high humor. Not me--I'm too mature.

On Sunday morning, I did not get to church (where I work) 10 minutes later than I require my teachers to be there--even though I planned to be there 45 minutes earlier. I did not try to make it seem like my daughter was solely responsible for my being late. That would be exaggerating. Not me.

I did not forget to take attendance, or make arrangements for the church's older kids to join in the missions children's church, or check on the nurseries cause my nursery director had a death in the family. Not me--I am on top of things.

I did not forget to refill my prescription until I was completely out of pills...necessitating a last minute trip to the store. While I was there, I did not buy tissue paper for my sister's gift on the way to her party because my storage room is so messy I couldn't get to the tissue paper I have there. Not me--that would be ridiculous.

Whew! I feel better now. As my 3 year old nephew says, "oh well, maybe next time".

What didn't you do this weekend???

who has time for laundry?

On Fridays I link up with the Company Girl Coffee Chat over at Home Sanctuary--a favorite blog.

Hello girls--having my diet coke and ready to chat it up with you. This week has been spent recovering and resurfacing from the H1N1 virus at our house. It hit us all, starting with hubby a week ago Wednesday and finishing up this past Wednesday with Pickle finally fever free. At one point in the weekend we had two comfy bean bag chairs on our small family room floor for the kiddos, while hubby and I each took a couch...everyone had to be comfy and we wanted to be together. Misery loves company I guess.

You might like to read about my burst of energy here and my subsequent crash here for a good glimpse of my week.

And can I just be random and say I loved, loved, loved The Office wedding episode. It was hysterical and sweet and ridiculous and painful in the way only The Office can be. It's not everyday you can see a high kick to the maid of honor's jaw...or a man wearing kleenex boxes on his feet. I might have watched it more than once this week. I might have.

In other news, Bubba had a half day at school today, and Pickle had the day off--so we lunched at the mall and shopped a bit, and arrived home a bit ago with two pumpkins to add to our fall decor. It was an afternoon filled with nothing special but was the kind of wonderful that comes from being together. (and out of the house!!)

The other hoopla around here is that our church (that has been without a pastor for 10 months) has a pastor candidate in town this weekend. Since I am on the church staff, we got to meet him a few weekends ago and so far, think he is awesome. Pickle is looking forward to meeting his daughters that are one year older and one year younger than she is. She's mentioned it approximately 372 times today. :) I'm excited too--to think our leaderless months might come to an end soon, and more importantly that God seems to be providing a guy that was worth the wait. We are praying for God to guide and lead us all.

Well, I'm off to Vietnamese food with the fam (yum...), and then a weekend filled with soccer games and churchy-type-stuff. And I guess I better fit the laundry in there somewhere. Happy Friday!

Kerry inspired me to talk about reality.

My sister Kerry posted today about reality TV—and the two shows she’s hooked on at the moment—So You Think You Can Dance and The Bachelorette. Read her post here. I must admit I watch the same two…and I also like American Idol, the Biggest Loser and The Amazing Race when they are on. There have also been some non-competitive reality shows that fill our tube now and again…some Jon and Kate (although I can’t watch this anymore…due to the fact that I want them to tell the cameras to go away and focus on their marriage and family before it all falls apart in front of America…but that is another story), some Little People, Big World; Supernanny; and What Not to Wear--to name a few.

What is the draw? Why do I like these shows? I wonder if I am just a product of my culture—that somehow I have been made to like these shows. I’ve been courted and teased and have become the typical american viewer. the end. I’d like to think it’s more than that…but it’s probably not. Regardless, I’d like to pretend there is more, and mention some reasons I find these shows so appealing.

1) First of all, with the obvious exception of the bachelorette, these shows fit into a hard-to come-by “my kids can watch it and even like it despite the lack of Disney channel stars and Dave and I are even a bit interested in it” category. Something we can all watch together. Something that actually can lead to discussions about behavior and attitudes as we see both good and bad examples on the screen. This is our family TV these days, for better or worse.

2) I also think I like rooting for someone…the one I think deserves the honor of “winning” the show, or triumphing over a situation in their lives. It isn’t always the one that is the obvious favorite, but usually one that is in the background at first and slowly grows on me. Let’s just say I was a Kris fan more than an Adam fan. I am one of those. And every now and then I have the satisfaction of seeing “my person” do well, or reach their goal or dream. Like Kris. (Still happy about that one.)

3) When it comes to the non-competitive shows…I think they tap into some sort of socially acceptable form of voyeurism. that sounds creepy, but admit it…we get to be in other people’s business and apparently it is OK with them. I also think I enjoy seeing how they handle challenges I don’t have, like having tons of kids or being a little person. It’s interesting. I wonder if I would handle things the way they do. And I like to see if their houses get messy too. And if I’m a better decorator. Just sayin.

4) I also like a happy ending. When the proposal is made, the recording deal guaranteed, the makeover revealed, the new skinny person punching through the paper fat “before” mural. It’s a feel-good moment. Totally worth the hours invested in cheering these people on through my TV. I honestly feel so happy for these people. By that point I feel like I know them somehow. I find myself caring for them…even though that is kinda weird. They don’t know me. But I know which ones I would hang with. We’d be close. I’m sure.

5) I also secretly envy the hosts. I mean, what a job. all the perks without having to actually be talented. I mean, talking? I can do that.

6) And, last, but certainly not least, I watch because "this week will be the most dramatic rose ceremony YET!” and you can't miss that! hook. line. sinker.

(And can we give three cheers to whoever invented the DVR? Cause I love that I don't have to stay home to catch the shows I like...and I don't have to miss any either. It's a beautiful example of time management, don'tcha think?)

So, without giving it too much thought…these are some reasons I watch these shows. Got some reasons of your own? Come on…you know you watch 'em.