Day 1- Pop-tarts and pain

The first thing Cole said to me this morning was "It's finally summer!". He said it with the same joy and excitement that he would have for the arrival of Christmas day or Easter Morning. Yes, Cole it is FINALLY summer vacation.

Today is the first day of summer vacation. No morning rush, no car drop- off line, no lunches to pack, no uniforms to find, no agendas to sign, no car pick-up line. The first day of vacation to sleep late and enjoy the peaceful & tranquil summer morning and the sound of my kids fighting over who called "dibs" on the last Pop-tart.

"I called it!"

"No, I called it first!"

" I called it last night!"

"I called the last one in the box when Mom bought them!"

"MOM!!!"

Calling dibs on stuff is a very important game of strategy in this house. Everything is up for grabs and you need to be the first to call dibs. You also need to be fast. If we are just returning home you need to race out of the truck and throw yourself against the front door, crowding around the doorknob until Mom or Dad unlocks the door. Then be the first one to squeeze past your brother and sister, slamming the door wide open and into the wall, run into the house and call dibs on something!

The last Pop-tart, the computer, the good game controller, the tv, the best chair, the only blue popsicle, the Gatorland cup, the bathroom, the leftover pizza, the favorite pool float, the goggles that work, and any other highly coveted item are all fair game. Even the cats are not exempt from being "called". Someone will shout "I call Blackie Chan!" as they all race in the door.

RUN AWAY, Blackie Chan, RUN AWAY!

It is a good thing that as soon as I woke up I called dibs on the good pool float, the only chaise lounge, the Aquatica beach towel (highly coveted item!) and the Mojito mixer. Blackie Chan is still up for grabs .

I went outside to escape the inevitable "That's not fair" and "You always let him have everything" whining and saw this little gator in the lake. He's just a little shrimp of a gator compared to most of the ones around here, maybe 4 feet long. He keeps hanging around so he needs a name. I think that I will call the little guy Gary- after Gary Coleman.

So there's Gary the Gator.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Unfortunately, while I was snapping Gary Gator's glamour shot I became a victim of some vicious fire ants. OUCH!! They hurt and they are sneaky little devils.

So, if by chance you are standing barefoot in the grass taking pictures of an alligator runt and you see a spot of something that looks like this, do not stand on it. Do not stand in it. Do not stand by it or near it. You are a potential victim.

RUN AWAY, victim, RUN AWAY!

We are out of Pop-tarts and I'm in pain. Time to hit the pool.