We had a miniature pre-show last night. Pete picked up a random bag at the fireworks stand for $6 that contained a little bit of everything…. to be absolutely honest, it was the best $6 we’ve spent lately.

First light up of the night!

We start ‘em young… Jett lights his first firework, with parental supervision, of course. Look closely at Gage in the background. He’s prepared.

This one was Gage’s pick. He thought it was “Like, really cool”.

Am I at the only one who sometimes feels a little like that chicken???

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July from the Wilsons!

Jett, our oldest, has style. Take a look at his newly created fad…

See it? Not the happenin’ shoes he picked out, but the rubber band around his ankle.

It started about two weeks ago, when we were heading out the door and he ran to the “junk drawer” (everyone has those, right?) and grabbed a rubber band and placed it on his ankle. It was very non-chalant, not planned, just something that struck him as a need in his life.

It just cracks me up every time I think about him making a “fashion statement” so to speak. He wears Under Armour and basketball shorts everyday, remember? He does it without expecting anyone else to follow suit, it’s just his thing.

Jett is getting a shout out today because he has started his own blog. Yep, at 7. He started asking a few weeks ago to join the ranks of Wilson Bloggers and my educational background partnered with Pete’s technical dedication told me to let him give it a try. So, Jett’s Journal is officially open!

I’m sure my dear friend, the antiblogger is calling child protection services as she reads this. We’ve looped our 7 year old into this fanatical blogging lifestyle of ours.

Just remember y’all….The family that blogs together, stays together.

Check out Jett’s Journal. He has vision. He refused to post about his encounter with Taylor Swift because in his words, “dad’s already done that.” So be ready to hear more about football than you ever wanted to know as well as his view on life as a Waxy.

Our family seems to have a thing for alliteration; Jett’s Journal, Brandi and Boys, and Without Wax. Hummmm….

The weather in Nashville has been down right delightful these last few days. Usually the only weather we have in July is sweltering humidity, which in turn means we only leave the comfort of our home (actually our AC) when we’re heading to the pool.

We’ve realized the gift of these gorgeous days and have spent many an hour playing outdoors. Last night we headed to the garage to pull out any and everything that could possibly be considered a toy. While the boys destroyed Pete’s the tiny portion of the house, I decided to finally vacuum all the leftover sand out of my cool ride (aka, the minivan).

While I was vacuuming the boys pulled out one of their favorite toys, the Power Wheels Jeep. We haven’t used it in a couple of weeks and evidently the battery was dead. Do you think my innovative children let that stop them? Absolutely not….

They were perfectly content letting their two-year-old brother push them around the driveway. He’s definitely low man on the totem pole, don’t you think?

Poor guy, I think this is a direct indication of the he has a long road ahead of him!

With the 4th of July holiday right around the corner I have been going through my recipe box looking for the easiest and most refreshing side dishes and desserts.

This one has everything I like thrown in together. Not only is it easy, but I usually have everything I need on hand.

Corn Salad

1 can sweet golden corn

1 medium size red-pepper diced

1-2 cucumbers diced

1 medium size tomato diced

Mix those together with Kroger Creamy Italian Dressing. I usually season using dried basil and a little salt and pepper to taste. Chill and enjoy!

This is my Works-For-Me-Wednesday post!

Last night Gage had a rough evening of sleep. After returning him to his bed for a third time I told him, “You are not allowed to come back to mommy’s bed tonight, understand?” With a pitiful look on his face he nodded his head.

This morning as I headed out of the house for an early work-out I found him like this…..

I guess sleeping outside of our bedroom door was the next best thing.

As I scooped him up and put him back in bed I gave him an extra squeeze. He opened his eyes and said, “Momma, I didn’t get back in your bed, did I?”

I doubt he’ll always be this obedient.

Each morning I am lucky enough to wake up beside him….

Then I head downstairs to spend some time with him…..

Yes, I have a minor obsession with the Today Show, as well as with Matt Lauer.

There is something about his corporate look mixed with his appealing personality that keeps me tuning in morning after morning.

My Today Show obsession goes back many years. I remember watching with my mom each morning when I was in middle school. That was back when Jane Pauley and Bryant Gumbal were the co-anchors.

When we first married, this was a big issue. Pete was a Good Morning America man, which I might add, was NEVER revealed in pre-marital counseling! I couldn’t believe my eyes the first morning of our honeymoon when he tuned in to GMA with Charlie Gibson and Joan Lunden. Who was this man I had married??? Had I made a mistake in not checking his morning show preferences earlier?? It took a few months to indoctrinate him, but he finally conceded that Today Show was the better of the morning broadcasts.

The interest I have in Matt is not a secret to those who know me well. In fact, I have several autographed head shots brought back from Matt by Cross Point musicians who have played The Plaza with country acts.

But to tell the truth, I love the whole Today Show team; Ann, Al, Meredith, and Natalie. Their quick wit and relational energy keep me tuning in morning after morning.

One day I’ll make it to New York and head straight to Rockefeller Center to watch a live taping. Make sure you’re watching for me because my sign will say… “I’ll leave my husband for Matt Lauer.” We all know I’d never actually follow through, but I see that as my best chance of actually meeting him!

What is your morning show of choice, GMA or Today Show?

A few days ago I was buckling the kids into the minivan and Gage kept talking, talking, talking. And to be quite honest, (here comes a confession) I was tuning him out. There is SO much noise in my home (plus I spent 6 years teaching elementary school) that I am an expert at tuning out the kid noise.

Please tell me I am not the only one who is guilty of neglecting a rambling child??

I will say I was tuned in just enough to notice the pitch of his little voice was changing, as well as increasing in speed. At that point I started listening.

“What you need, Gage?” I asked.

“To tell you there’s a weally big, fat bird on our house.”

Boy, was he right!

There really was a big, fat bird on our house! It wasn’t a pretty bird either, it was a buzzard or also know as a vulture. Fascinating, huh?

Does anyone know, are these really big, fat, and ugly birds a southern thing? Whittaker Woman is always educating me on what new things she has discovered since moving to the south. Simple things I have always taken for granted, like lightening bugs for instance.

You’ve already read about the clump of bees propogating in our front yard. Now look at the havoc a raccoon made of our trash a few months ago.

Oh, if I would have had my little Flip camera then, the video I could have gotten of Pete trying to outsmart that raccoon. It was quite a saga. And you’re seeing correctly, he is standing on a chair.

We live 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, a metropolis! But here’s the list of all the wildlife we’ve seen in the past month from the yard of our home; vulture, clump of bees, oppossum, racoon, momma wild turkey with chicks, deer, geese and we’ve heard coyotes howling. The wildlife outnumbers us!

Fill me in, what’s the wildest or weirdest thing you have seen looking out your front door?

Meet my parents….. James and Laurel.

They’re at the airport, standing on the curb, getting ready to head to Vegas! Yes, Vegas, for four days of adventure!

Doesn’t my dad look enthused? That is his excited face, it is also his I’m having fun face, as well as his this is a pretty good day face. He’s a little emotionally reserved. It is definitely NOT his you’re in big trouble face. That face is very different and to be honest, I haven’t seen it much since high school when I was in the “let’s push mom and dad’s buttons” phase.

Pete and I teamed up with my brother to surprised them with this trip for their 40th wedding anniversary. 4-0, these days that’s a pretty impressive number. They were one of those couples who got married after two months of knowing one another, and there they stand today probably enjoying each other more than they did 40 years ago!

I am blessed that we were able to give them this gift. In fact, it was one of my favorite gifts to give, EVER!!! The surprise factor, intertwined with celebrating such a milestone, has brought lots of enthusiasm. To quote a friend of mine… “gifts that are unexpected mean the most and I’ve never been wrong when I share.”

What has been your favorite gift to give someone?

PS - If you know my Grandma Purdy, let’s not tell her where my mom and dad are. She thinks Vegas is another Sodom and Gomorrah and that my parents shouldn’t be setting such a blatant example of sinning in front of the children….. Just our little secret.

PSS - After writing this post my dad called to tell me they had arrived safely. Then my mom got on the phone and proceeded to tell me how on the flight out she had gotten seated in the middle of 6 strapping soldiers who were taking a Vegas furlough in the front of the plane, while poor dad got stuck in the back….alone. Hope those soldiers don’t bring down 40 good years! What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas!!

Hey guys, thank you for all the fabulous vacuum advice. I never expected the outpouring of quality information I received. I was fairly confident in the yellow ball Dyson before I wrote the post, but you guys validated my opinion in a big way! Thanks to each of you for saving the co-vacuuming existence of my marriage!

O-R-E-C-K that Phil recommended has been on my list for years as well as the Rainbow recommended by a few folks, but I think I’d rather send my kids to college than make the Rainbow purchase! Thank you for your help and I’d love to sit by each one of you in the high school cafeteria as Giant Idiot pointed out!

Onto another issue, I want to know more about you and your attitude on life.

Are you a glass “half-empty” or a glass “half-full” person?

Okay guys, I need you all to weigh in on a high priority issue we have at the Wilson Home………a new vacuum.

I’m aware over at the legendary Pioneer Woman she lets you decide floor choices for their lodge and pick the concrete colors for bathrooms. Maybe choosing a vacuum doesn’t seem like as crucial or urgent of a decision, but our ole’ vacuum is really causing issues in our marriage. Pete says his vacuuming days are over if I don’t take action. This is why…

Yes, the vacuum is in two pieces and yes, I tape it together (I’m high class like that). It has been “intricately engineered” back together as one piece for a the last three months because I know which month a new vacuum will specifically fit into our budget. That month is now!

I have three significant requirements.

It must vacuum up all of the hair from him (yes, he’s a b-o-y too, I’m surrounded).

It needs to have a little wand like this (my utmost favorite vacuum feature)

And last, but not least, it must have a hardwood or bare floor setting, I’d rather vacuum than sweep.

Just as a side note, I purchased this Dirt Devil in 1998!!!!! Those were the good ole’ days when things were made to last. This sucker has been through four moves, 10 shedding seasons with our dog, and three grubby boys. Which probably means I should buy another Dirt Devil, heck I could do a commercial with this thing.

Give me your input and recommendations, what is your vacuum of choice? Remember the co-vacuuming existence of my marriage depends on it!

Confession…I’m an absolute word-of-mouth buyer, so I really will listen to what you have to say. You and Consumer Reports (my trusted big purchase authority).