I'm a Young, Hip, Momma.

At least I like to think so.

We were hitting bed time the other night, when I saw my 5 year old daughter with butt loads of candy on the table. She was just smacking away like it was nobody's business, without consideration of even ASKING me if she could have candy late in the evening.

By the time I turned around my two sons grabbed up some sweets and were chopping like cows in a pasture. My Momma X-Ray vision could actually see the cavities popping into each one of their little tiny teeth along with a sugar rush that resembled a shooting star zooming straight to their head.

Without hesitation, I told them with my stern voice that there would NOT be any more snacks for the rest of the night, something that is unheard of to them since moving to TX. And you KNOW what I mean Ganee! They have their very own GINORMOUS snack box that my Mother-In-Law puts together for them with overflowing Kit-Kats, Gummy Worms, Baby Bottle Pops, and anything else a child would want. Seriously. If you're in town, hit Ganee's snack box and you'll be set.

So, it's my job at my Parent's house (where we're staying until we find a house), to keep my children in line, especially in the nutrition department. This particular night, I finished my 15 second lecture on why we can't have any more snacks and pointed at each child making sure they understood.

My job for the night is done.

I'm confident in my finger pointing skills.

Then I hear, "Sara's the minute lady!" This coming from my Mom to my sister, I knew exactly which "Minute Lady" she was talking about. Take a look:



So, as much as I don't want to sound like an AT&T spokesperson (I'm a happy Verizon customer), I actually see how my family would label me as the Milky Minutes Mom.

I've got both the finger pointing and Momma voice down pat.

Yup.

It's an acquired skill.

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I recently moved from Memphis back to my hometown of Baytown, TX. I'm overly thrilled to be around my family again and have been inhaling old memories as I drive around the town.

It's been so much fun giving the kids a picture of my childhood, showing them where I used to hang out, the library where I "studied", and my old High School, Robert E. Lee.



My husband recently landed a job here completely off the career path he WAS following. This new company is family oriented, goal minded, and well.. just good ole' Southern guys who want to make a living and have fun doing it. I'm so proud of him and am very confident this is the right step for our young family.

While I'm enjoying my hometown, there is this little factor that makes me day dream of Memphis Winters and it's a little thing I like to call the forecast:



Yup.

The High yesterday in Houston reached 104, which is the hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of June, but get this.... the Heat Index topped 108!!! Hay Chihuahua!

Yuck.

Mix in a little Gulf Coast humidity and you've got, you guessed it:



I think I'll turn down the heat and simmer a bit on the couch.

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Abby pretending to be asleep so I won't take her picture



For more Wordless Fun: 5 Mins for Mom, Ordinary and Awesome, WW HeadQuarters, 7 Clown Circus, and
Keeper of the Cheerios

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This year Father's Day is a little chaotic.

Instead of enjoying a nice lunch out with my Dad, showering my husband with gifts and kisses from the kids, or playing Ladder Ball with my Father-in-Law, I'm sitting at Dunkin' Donuts.

By Myself.

Yup.

It's all for good reason though. We made a late night trip from TX to Memphis, TN on Friday to pack up our house. We're moving, Hubby found a job, and we get to enjoy our family again (along with the blanket of humidity that TX offers on a daily basis).

Dunkin' Donuts has free Wi-Fi. Since my internet is off at home, I was hungry, and I had to announce Label Daddy Dad Blogger of the Year, I decided to enjoy some Jelly Munchkins, a sweet tea, and a little Laptop Time.

Don't worry, I'll join hubby in about 10 more minutes to finish packing the kids toys, my dishes, and all of what defines the Patterson Household. I wanted to tell all those amazing Dad's out there, Happy Father's Day!

Your job is so difficult, being a provider, wrestler, and ball catcher. You cook, sometimes clean, and mow the grass like a pro. You take on all the hard jobs that us Mommas can't do, such as this:



Nothing says Birds and Bee's like Dunkin' Donuts and a Pre-Teen Son who wishes he could be ANYWHERE, but here.

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Hey! On vacation, why not get in a little Video Poker in between Sesame Street, Naps, and Lunch Time?!



For more Wordless Fun: 5 Mins for Mom, Ordinary and Awesome, WW HeadQuarters, 7 Clown Circus

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... okay, not really, but the thought crossed my mind when I got a text at 11:41pm last night stating:

I just got on the Atchafalaya bridge then realized I'm low on gas.. hope I make it.

An anxiety filled mind had thoughts of my poor husband having to walk this stretch of highway while hungry alligators waited for him underneath. For those of you who have never heard of this never-ending bridge, I'll give you a little schooling.



Besides giving a little product placement for JB Hunt (pure luck there JB, pure luck), this picture gives you an idea of how long this bridge is. According to Wikipedia, The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is actually two parallel bridges in the US state of Louisiana between Baton Rouge and Lafayette , LA which carries Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin. With a total length of 96,095 feet (29,290 m) or 18.2 miles, it is the eighth longest bridge in the world by total length.

If you're planning to be in the Louisiana area, you might want to take a potty break, gas up, and buckle up. Not only are you in for a long ride, but apparently a really creepy one if driving at night. Can you imagine the darkness, fog, and dreariness while you swift passed all that's underneath?!

Well, my husband sure did, when he, for an instant, thought he would be stuck there, out of gas and out of reptile repellent. A breath of relief came over me when, at 12:03am, I got this:

Made it.

Whew.

Brian a la mode is NOT on the Crocodile Menu tonight.



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Summer started in May for us.

On Zach's last day of school, I was eager and ready to head South to Texas not only visit family, but breath in my old hometown.

In Memphis we work like clockwork..wake at 7:00am with the kids, breakfast, laundry, dishes, blogging, cleaning, lunch, blogging, cleaning, nap, playtime outside, dinner, bath, stories, and bedtime. We seemed to get in this never ending rut of boredom and I just HAD to get out!

I'm here in Baytown, TX where ExxonMobil thrives, onion grass blooms, country music is found on just about every station, and the old buildings near my parents house make me wonder why I left this ole' town to begin with.

I promised myself, and I think all of you readers out there, that I would blog more. I took a long break back in March and I VOWED to write more, I VOWED to give you simple updates on when my Abby Girl say, "Fart", when My Toddler makes me cry, or when Zachary proves to everyone, yet again, that he is definitely more intelligent than his Momma.

I. Have. Failed. (at blogging that is)

It's for good reason though! I'm enjoying all my time here in Small Town USA that each time I sat in front of my laptop, I was pulled away by Mimosa's, Shopping Trips, Cook-Outs, Shrimp Boils, or dinners out at my FAVORITE Mexican Restaurant! I'm packing on the pounds with all this good food that I might not look myself in Chicago for BlogHer '09 . Stay tuned because I might even tell you about my Motorcycle experience! Yup, this girl is living on the wild side!

SO, I vow to write more. Why? Because I miss it. I may never become famous at it, but I sure do love to write. The creative juices WILL flow again and most of you will get a whole lot of me and my Sippy Cup!

You might be surprised that we'll be announcing yet ANOTHER move (maybe). It seems that the Small Town USA I speak of is calling us right back. Go figure.

It's Home and I can't wait.

Justin Moore sings it quite nicely for this Texas Girl:

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I'm still in TX enjoying some girlie girl time with my Mom and Sister



For more Wordless Fun: 5 Mins for Mom, Ordinary and Awesome, WW HeadQuarters, 7 Clown Circus

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Texas to Tennessee.
Tennessee to North Carolina.
North Carolina back to Tennessee.
Tennessee back to:



Baytown, TX

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