As you can see, Esther will give you a tour of our house in the rain.

a mom's numerical reflection

Number of children I took to Target this morning: 3.
Highest number of kids in time-out in Target at the same time: 2.
My parents came over for our Thursday date (weekly). We all played and hung out until Robert couldn't take anymore and coughed until it made him sick.
Days Robert has had the flu: 4
Highest fever: 103'
Number of people who took him to the pediatrician: 2 (Papaw and me).
Amount of Tami-flu available (even with a prescription): 0
Dosage of acetominophen for 7 year old: 2 (tsp.)
Number of times that Esther slowed down and got really quiet today: 0

Time to leave the house for the Irving Berlin revue: 6:30pm
Number of girls we brought with us to childcare: 2.
Amount of tickets my parents bought for the evening's event: 4
Amount of tickets used: 1.
Memorable musical moments spent reflecting on Berlin's amazing career and talent: infinite
Amount of talent in the room tonight: infinite.
My gratitude for the extraordinary in the midst of the tough stuff of life: growing quickly.
Score of the football game my son and husband are watching right now: 3 to 16.
good night.
Hopeful amount of hours of sleep I will get tonight: 8.

record rain brings magical mushrooms

Fascinated by these fungi that have sprouted in our backyard due to heavy rain, I tried to capture the beauty of these mushrooms in photos. Anybody know any of these varieties? Big Daddy's late aunt Alice was a mushroom lover. I wish I could consult her now . .

Look at the dirt between these. They must have come up so fast that they brought dirt with them!

Smurfs anyone?

I love the rim on this one:

Robert is 7!!

Robert's birthday watch- straight from Rhode Island! He loved it.He models it. On Saturday morning Rob treated us to Chik-fil-a. YUM!

CC loved her biscuit. All day long we wondered if our planned outing to Turner Field for Robert's b-day celebration would be rained out. It was not!!CC had some good love time with Papaw.Granny made awesome baseball cupcakes and bat, ball and bases snack mix (not pictured). Yes, it is awesome to be Martha Stewart's daughter.Mama and CC.

As the evening got later, CC curls up with Granny. And Karla.

The beautiful Kosar family who joined us at Turner Field.

Robert and the Browns.

Thank you to the Burlingtons (of the northeast), the Haynes, the Kosars, the Hagues, the Daniels, and the Browns who all made Robert's 7th birthday pretty awesome. :)

Here's to better hair!!

Esther, CC and I were far overdue for a good haircut.

As you can see, my hair was lifeless and dull. Add that to the fact that I am officially a minivan-driving soccer mom who is featured in a Kroger commercial and boom- I was feeling downright dowdy. One trip to B.Lee Salon

www.bleesalon.com and voila- the Burlington ladies are back on track.After lunch, Granny and Esther enjoyed some cardgames.
We also had tea.

Mama is back.

Robert's soccer debut

Robert began team soccer today.
He was happy to put on his gear: Out on the field: In action:

While Robert practiced, Esther gathered up the players' siblings and started her own soccer practice. And now, I give you, Coach Esther Burlington:

potty talk quotes and more

"Well, mom, aliens have alien goop that comes out of them. Alien poop is red and it smells like cherries!"-Esther.
"Yum!"- Robert
"No Robert- you can't eat it because all people in the whole earth are allergic to it. Aliens have blood that is grey. Well, grey and blue and it smells disgusting like DI-A-REE-UH!!"

"Mom, God follows us everywhere in the moon right? And the moon goes everywhere with you no matter what car you are driving in."- Esther
"Well, Esther, God is everywhere."-me
"Oh, so God is in toilets. . . and even in the pipes?"(giggles)- Esther

"That's what it looks like in my head. I can see it in my head. Boy, I wish I could get inside of my head and look at it!"- Robert

"Gum! Down! Uh-oh! Crackee! Gum!! Ball! Mama! Gum! Gum! Gum! Daddeee!"- CC