Embarrassing!!

I was reading an article in a magazine the other day about people's most embarrassing moments. They were all pretty funny and some were definitely extremely embarrasing. So, it got me to thinking about what my most embarrassing moment has been to date (because I know there will be many more in my future!!). Well, without a doubt it would have to be my "treadmill" story.

I was running on a treadmill in a gym when I got the brilliant idea to say a quick prayer about something that was weighing heavy on my mind. Well, I shut my eyes really quickly ( I don't think that was a conscious decision, just a habit) and of course, I step off the moving belt like a quarter of an inch and I totally lose my footing. I fall down (very hard and very loud) and land on my back . All the while, the belt is still moving so not only do I fall down but when I land, the moving belt actually throws me off the back end of the treadmill and I pretty much slam into the wall....imagine me in sorta of a fetal position pinned between the wall and the still moving full speed treadmill. As I struggle to get up, this old guy beside me just kinda nonchalantly looks down at me and says, "It has happened to all of us." Meanwhile, I am thinking, "No it hasn't, you jerk, and why don't you offer to help me up or at least ask me if I am permanently injured...."

Anyway, I get up, wipe myself off and get back on the treadmill and start running again. And, I don't even have to start the treadmill back up, because it is still running full speed!! As I begin to run again, I look down at my elbow and it is bleeding pretty bad, but I refuse to stop running and get off the treadmill. So, I just wipe the blood on my shirt and keep on truckin'. In thinking back, I guess I thought I would look more calm, cool, & collected if I just wiped myself off and got back on. Although inside, my heart was racing, I was totally mortified, and I wanted to punch the old guy beside me. I can still remember the whole event like it happened yesterday (and it was like 9 years ago)....

So, what's the moral of this story...."Pray with your eyes open!!"

We just got back from the beach and this trip just reaffirmed what I have always known - "I Love the beach!!" It is so peaceful and relaxing and just plain beautiful. The kids had a blast...I think their favorite part was the fact that we got to see some dolphins. Kenzie now loves dolphins - she even bought a book on dolphins so she could read up on them. It was funny because she was reading the book and she stopped to tell me "Mom, I know why dolphins are not fish, because if they were, they would eat themselves....they eat fish for their food." I thought that was a funny way to put it, but her logic made perfect sense.

The trip was pretty uneventful, which is good when you have four kids. I did lose a beach towel....but not the conventional way. I was sitting in some chairs by the pool and I left to go for a short walk. I came back to get my towel and there was this weirdo guy who was totally drying off his whole body with my towel. He dried off for a little bit then he put my towel back where it was and left. Matt wanted me to get my towel and I was like "No Way"...that is so gross. I will just count it as a loss and buy a new towel. I don't really like the idea of some strange man wiping his body off with my towel...

My new approach to photography

I know that I just wrote about how frustrating taking pictures of four kids could be....but I am happy to say that I think I have discovered the solution!! Take your pictures from behind - that's right, just line them up and take a picture of their cute little booties. I was at the park with them today and they were walking in front of me and so I thought - "hey, this might work...." So, I pulled Kassidy out of her stroller and added her to the line-up and I got a really cute picture. I hope this wonderful insight solves all your photography problems....

You better smile for the camera, or else!!!!!

Ok, so I love to take pictures. It is definitely one of my most favorites things to do. However, it is also one of the most frustrating things for me - the one activity that makes me lose my temper almost every time. You see, I have four kids, and it is extrememly difficult to get four kids to cooperate and smile all at the same time.

I took them all out to the backyard tonight to try to get a picture for my mom for Mother's Day. Matt was mowing the grass so he could not help me....which should have been my first tip off that this was a bad idea. So, I sit them all down in the freshly cut grass, with the sun shining so pretty in the background....but even the beautiful scenery could not make this situation any better. From the first snap of the camera, I am constantly yelling ("You better smile or I am going to beat your bottom"...."If you don't stop crying, I am going to spank you"...."Look at the camera - do you understand English??"...."Stop squinting your eyes and smiling like a weirdo.") I am sure you get the point. My poor neighbor probaby wanted to call DFACS on me and report me for "picture taking cruelty" or something like that.

I don't know why I am so set on getting the "perfect" picture. I wish I would just realize that they are kids and some of the best pictures are the candid, fun shots. I am embarrassed that I get so tense and sometimes just plain mean when I am taking their picture. So, I am making a commitment right now to no longer stress over getting that perfect picture - with four kids, it just isn't going to happen. I don't want my kids to run and hide every time thay see my get my camera out. Now, I will try my best to only be positive and say nice, encouraging, complimentary things to them when it is time for the dreaded photo shoot. After all, they are pretty cute kids and I think they look good no matter how the picture turns out!!

So, I recently signed up for a Facebook account and I had to list all my favorite movies and tv shows. I listed Dirty Dancing as my favorite all time movie from back in the day. Well, Matt kindly dropped a hint that I might want to take that movie off my list. Of course, being the Patrick Swayze fan that I am, I was like, "What? Are you crazy? That movie rocks." He went on to remind me that the movie has an abortion scene, lots of premarital sex, and - you guessed it- a lot of "dirty" dancing. And, once I really thought about it, I did have to sneak out and watch it at my friends house because I knew my parents would not let me watch it at our house. And it is probably safe to say that I would not want my kids to watch it. Although, I did come really close to buying Kassidy a onesie that said, "Nobody puts my baby in a corner." I just wasn't sure if anyone would get it.

So, I gave in and took it off my favorites list. But, I must admit, if I came across the movie on tv tonight, I would be forced to at least dvr it, so I could watch my all time favorite scenes and, of course, fast forward through anything questionable (I promise, Matt).


As far as the tv shows go, I love me some Kirk Cameron in Growing Pains. Matt bought me the first season on DVD and we watched the whole set in a couple of weeks. We would both catch ourselves laughing out loud....I mean, who doesn't love Mikey Seaver and his side kick, Boner?? I also listed Family Ties. Micheal J. Fox is hilarious in that show. I actually love pretty much the whole cast in that show. I wanted to name one of our girls Mallory, but Matt never went for it.


See if any of these pics bring back a smile to your face....

Say a little prayer

So, not an awful lot has been going on here at the Walls house. It sounds funny to me to actually say that because people think that with four kids our life would be constant chaos. But, I guess it is possible that my "normal" days would be considered crazy in other households. Matt has even been out of town for a couple days...but I got to tag along for the first part of the trip, so maybe that day away kinda refreshed me and so things did not seem as hectic to me when I got back.

Anyways, even though things seem pretty smooth here at our house, I feel like I am surrounded by people who are really having a rough time right now. Weighing epecially heavy on my heart this week is a friend of ours that used to be in our small group. She has a child that was born with quite a few problems and he has been doing great but he had to have a pretty invasive surgery on his neck and he has really been struggling in the hospital trying to recover. They had to fly to Maryland for the surgery - away from their older children and all their family & friends. It is hard to even imagine what they are going through and how their hearts must be so heavy for their baby boy - all I can say is that I have been praying and thinking of them each and every day. I am going to post the link to their website because I know that some of you know Tom & Brandie and you may want to read about their journey and maybe even post some words of encouragement for them - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesmcneal

Just remember - be thankful for all that God has blessed you with and always lift those up who may be struggling....sometimes prayer and words of encouragement are the most precious thing you can offer a friend.

Brody the Great

My 3 year old son Brody is one crazy dude. He can say the funniest things (usually at the worst times). For example, the other day, we were at Chick-fil-A (shocking, right?) and a cute little girl was sitting right across from us. She had the most beautiful brown skin and long black hair. Well, all of a sudden, Brody shouts out, "Look mom, its Mulan!!" And he said it very loudly - so, of course, I start the whole "Be quiet Brody - that is not Mulan...." Meanwhile, Matt is laughing so hard he is crying.

Later that day, I took Brody to Publix with me and he saw an older man walking toward us and he shouts out, "Look mom, its Dr. Phil." I had to laugh at that one. He has always had a slight obsession with Dr. Phil. Everytime I would watch it when he was little, he would point to the television and say, "PaPa!!" Is is just funny to me that he always has to associate the way someone looks or acts with a person that he knows.

Not only is he obsessed with the way a person looks, but with the way they are dressed. We came home yesterday and our neighbor was working in her yard in her bikini top and shorts - he yelled out that she was naked - so, of course, I had to lecture him and tell him not to yell that out loud when we get out of the car. He just started laughing and said, "She is naked, mom."

So, I often wonder what this obsession with people and their traits/characteristics is predicting about Brody's future?? Who knows - but for know it definitely keeps us alert, aware, & sometimes concerned about what he will say about the next person that walks by.....Gotta love little kids and their tendency to "blurt out" the obvious!!