3m's Mama

Farewell

2011-03-21T17:54:00.003-05:00

When I started this blog almost four years ago, I needed an outlet for my thoughts. I was stuck at home with 3 small children, had a husband who traveled all the time and was in dire need of getting all that was in my head out so that I didn't go completely crazy. Blogs were becoming very popular and as more and more people joined the mom-blog bandwagon, I found myself becoming less and less enthralled with the idea that people from all over the world would be able to read what I wrote.

This blog has definitely served a purpose. I have loved sharing my life with you 10 faithful readers. I have loved having an outlet to express what's on my heart. I have loved sharing photos of my children. However, I feel my time in the blogosphere has come to an end. I'm a working mother of three who has just taken on a new part-time job as a Spinning instructor (if you've never heard of Spinning, you can check it out here. If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be a fitness instructor in any way, I would've told you you were crazy). And, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't been blogging much at all in the last year. That showed me that this blog thing isn't for me right now.

I have lofty expectations of having another blog some day, one where I can share more of my photos with you. I know the whole amateur photography thing is another bandwagon that so many have joined but I really do love it. Most of my subjects are my precious children but I do like taking pictures of other things, at least when I have the time. And that time is becoming more and more precious as the years go on. My children have grown so quickly, even though some days felt so long. My baby is about to be 4! I'll never tire of sharing the story of his miraculous birth. I'll always be thankful for the many L-isms over the years. She still says so many funny things. And K's dimples haven't changed one bit even though she is 8 going on 16.

With that, I say a fond farewell!

Day Three

2010-12-02T16:04:00.001-06:00

For today's list, I thought I would get in the Christmas spirit this first week of December with a Christmas-themed list.

Watching the kids open presents on Christmas morning in our own house
Eating lots of dressing (and a little turkey) for Christmas dinner
A room aglow with the lights from the Christmas tree
My children's homemade ornaments
The smell of cinnamon and spice candles
Singing Silent Night acapella on Christmas Eve
Wine and cheese for Christmas Eve dinner
Listening to my children sing the now familiar Christmas hymns
All of our family gathering for Christmas dinner
The quiet of Christmas Night

Day Two

2010-11-30T13:56:00.002-06:00

I have some thoughts about college football but I want to make sure I get it just right. (And no, it's not about Auburn.) So here's Day Two of being thankful:

K's dimples on her cheeks just below her hazel eyes
L-isms that continue to make me laugh
The way H winks when he asks a question
S's big, round blue eyes
Sunsets at the beach
When K reads to H
The legacy my parents are leaving my children
Movies and popcorn on a rainy day
The way H thinks that every football player wearing the number 2 jersey is Cam Newton
Watching L when she does gymnastics

In a Hurry

2010-11-29T21:14:00.003-06:00

"Girls, hurry up! We're leaving in 10 minutes!" I holler this upstairs to my girls on a daily basis. I wake them up in plenty of time to get dressed for school and have breakfast. Yet, on many occasions, they aren't ready until just before it's time to go. Then there's a mad dash to put cereal in a bag so they'll have something in their stomachs to last until lunch.

I'm always rushing in the morning, whether it's making lunches that I neglected to make the night before or putting a bag together for the gym or cleaning up a last-minute mess H made.

Then there's instant gratification, the rush of information available at my fingertips. I admit I have an iPhone and I really do love it. Since I'm not often home and near a computer, I have the ability to be reached at any time for any reason (including today when, while at work, K calls me to ask if she can have a cough drop because she's coughing really bad. She wants to know if I brought any cough medicine for her. Let's not forget that I work at the school where she attends and am just downstairs in the kitchen and it's during her lunch time. Not sure why she felt the need to call. It's not like the campus is that big. The kitchen and her classroom are in the same building. It took her longer to walk to the office and tell the school secretary that she needed to call me in the first place). I like knowing things quickly, staying on top of things, current events, sports (especially how my Auburn Tigers are doing and what everyone is saying about them, good and bad), and even little stories about my hometown. All of this is available on one little device.

Even the games on the iPhone are meant to be played quickly. I read an article about video game designers (in a real paper magazine, not online) and how they've had to rethink the video game concept to fit users who play on their iPod-type devices. People want games they can play in 10 minutes, not several hours.

I have a Facebook account and can see what all my "friends" are doing at any given moment. The only thing I don't subscribe to is Twitter and I just can't seem to get on that bandwagon. But you get my point. We get on demand TV and movies, internet just about anywhere and are always available to talk, text, email, etc.

Yet two things have happened in the last two weeks that have forced me to step back and say, "What's the hurry?" I have two friends who are dealing with ill parents. These people are my age and their parents are the same age as my parents. This isn't just the flu or a cold, we're talking major illnesses and surgeries and life-changing choices here.

Then there's this sign I saw for several weeks as I took the kids to school and back home again. It read, "Thanksgiving wasn't meant to be shut up in one day." I don't usually pay attention to those kinds of signs, in fact I rather loathe them as they always seem to be catchy-type, on the surface sayings. Nothing that really makes me think.

This one was different. I really thought about that and they're right: Thanksgiving wasn't meant to be shut up in one day. We are to be thankful all the time. I am to be thankful all the time. Scripture even tells us to pray with thanksgiving when we make our requests (Philippians 4:6-7). And what follows our requests made with thanksgiving? The peace that surpasses all understanding. Who wouldn't want that? Who wouldn't want a peace to calm all that hurrying we do?

So as not to speed past Thanksgiving and straight on into Christmas, I am going to list 10 things every day for which I am thankful (yes, Mod Girl, I took this idea from you). I'll do this through the end of the year. I encourage you to do the same.

My Lord and Savior and His death on the cross
My husband
My children
My church family
My school family, including those I work with
Small town living (although it seems way too small at times)
My job
My husband's job that allows him to be home with us
My home
My parents and in-laws who are always willing to help where they can

It's Great to be an Auburn Tiger!

2010-11-15T08:05:00.003-06:00

One more time in Auburn for me this football season. I was able to go to the AU/UGA game last Saturday, and boy was it fun. S and the kids stayed home while I spent the weekend with Sporty Mama and her family. I was completely exhausted when I got home but it was totally worth it. We won, in convincing fashion, and are headed to the SEC Championship. I have been so blessed this season to see three football games, something that hasn't happened since I was a student at AU.

And every time I walk in Jordan-Hare Stadium, I feel like I'm home again...

Homecoming

2010-11-09T16:26:00.004-06:00

We were blessed to be able to go to The Loveliest Village again this football season. This time, we were able to bring the kids along. We had a wonderful time taking them to Tiger Walk (S's first time, too), the game, and then to Toomer's Corner to roll the trees.

That's Cam's head in the middle. I'm proud of his accomplishments this season no matter what is being said about him these days. And he's just as impressive off the field.

K and Sporty Mama
Me and my sweet girl

H at Toomer's Corner

They were done smiling for pictures

Sisters

2010-10-29T14:23:00.004-05:00

My mom found this picture. I immediately thought of my girls and what a precious gift they have: each other.

(I take no credit for this painting. Just thought it was beautiful and needed to be shared)

Batman Lightyear

2010-10-18T13:00:00.002-05:00

This little man cracks me up. He wanted to be both Batman and Buzz Lightyear the other night so he chose both.

A-U-B-U-R-N!

2010-09-20T16:13:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Sporty Mama, S and I were able to go the AU/Clemson game this weekend. While it was WAY too close for my liking and we got home super late (2:00 am!) it was totally worth it. I am still recovering from the very late night but was so thankful for the opportunity to see my Auburn Tigers play in person. I also was able to have a mini sorority reunion with several Zeta sisters, some of whom I hadn't seen in over 10 years. We had a wonderful time reminiscing and catching up. We even saw the GameDay crew at the restaurant where we had dinner!

Not all the pictures are of the best quality but it's the best I could do with my little camera. Now I'm off to recover from what feels like jet lag...

What You Find When You Organize

2010-09-06T17:19:00.002-05:00

When I was downloading pictures from my camera to my new computer, I found this one of H taken last year. He's lost that baby face and is rapidly moving into boyhood. Sometimes I need these gentle reminders that life is precious and going by so fast!

Easter 2010

2010-08-30T18:37:00.001-05:00

Away

2010-08-29T19:29:00.004-05:00

I spent this rainy, dreary weekend with my friend of 15 years, Sporty Mama. She and I met my first week at Auburn and little did I know I had found a lifelong friend. We have shared many wonderful times together over these last 15 years but this was the first time we have spent any time together just the two of us. We went away for two whole nights without our husbands, without our children, without an agenda. Well, there was sort of an agenda: sleep late, eat whenever we want, retail therapy, and wine. That was about it. Oh, and her Fantasy Football draft.

We had a blessed time fellowshipping, laughing, sharing, and watching Auburn football clips from years past, including the kick that won the 1997 Iron Bowl, which just happened to be my 21st birthday. We also managed to squeeze in some amazing food, much-needed retail therapy, and a new margarita recipe. What a great way to spend a weekend!

Thanks, Sporty Mama, for being my friend!

Views of the Harbor from our hotel room

First Day of School 2010

2010-08-23T20:25:00.003-05:00

A new year is officially here. I have resumed my Lunch Coordinator duties and K, L, and H have started school. I don't really know what to do with myself in the afternoons while H rests in after school care and the girls finish their day. Here are my three babies on their first day of school!

Happy 10th

2010-08-03T11:35:00.002-05:00

On August 2, 2000, S proposed to me. I realized last night that it was the 10th anniversary of this blessed event. It reminded me of the pleasant surprise I received when I got home late from work.

I am still in love with that boy I fell in love with so many years ago. Thank you, honey, for asking me to be your wife. It is a true honor.

Not Done Yet

2010-07-26T15:59:00.002-05:00

So, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth although it does seem that way. Here's a brief recap of what's happened in the days since February 13:

H turned 3. I could do a whole post about how difficult May 1 is, the day before his birthday is always very hard for me. I always cry when I put him to bed. I guess it's a reminder of God's grace and provision that either of us are here right now. I usually don't think about the night he was born but on May 1, it all comes back to me.
We finished yet another year of school. K finished 2nd grade which is somewhat unbelievable. What's more unbelievable is that L finished Kindergarten and is reading like crazy. Growing way too fast.
I finished my first year of working outside the home. I was so ready to be done with that mess it wasn't even funny. I am going to do the same thing this fall and will even have a whole day to myself when H is in school. K3 here we come!
K turned 8. She is now a young lady, not a little girl. So sweet, such a helper, and has a very giving spirit.
L turned 6. She is as spunky as ever and is way too young to be into dangly earrings. Yet she is. She still has her L-isms that keep me cracking up. I wish I could remember all of the ones she has come up with over the last 5 months. Alas, I cannot, as I cannot remember yesterday all that well. How am I supposed to remember 5 months ago?
I got to spend a fabulous girls' weekend with a dear friend on a trip to my hometown. I also spent some much-needed one-on-one time with my mother. We have never spent that much time together since I got married. It was a definite blessing.
We spend our very first Easter with Nana. We've always stayed home for that holiday as trying to get on the road after a big Easter dinner is almost impossible. However, this year the Easter holiday was the beginning of our spring break so we spent a couple of extra days with the grandparents.
The kids, all of them, spent two weeks at a day camp at our school, focusing on cooking and art. We came home with some really cool art projects which I hope to share at some point.
We have conquered potty training. No more diapers at this house!

Now that you're all caught up, I hope to continue to post blogs more regularly. My goal is to post once a week but that's a lofty expectation at this point. I pray all of you have been well!

Because I Love Him...

2010-02-13T16:46:00.002-06:00

It's Cold!

2010-01-09T11:39:00.001-06:00

Bystanders

2009-12-21T17:44:00.002-06:00

Two of my three favorite photographic subjects waiting for the tree to crash

Monday

2009-12-21T10:44:00.003-06:00

Reason #1 taking down large trees should not be DIY...

Merry Christmas from the 3m's Mama House

2009-12-20T17:13:00.002-06:00

Oldies but Goodies

2009-12-09T08:34:00.005-06:00

The rocking chair that was my grandparents'. It has had several different colors of paint over the years, although I only ever remember it being white. I love the way the sunlight pours over it in the mornings.

The spool bed is my favorite piece. It was my great-grandmother's and was my bed for many, many years. It's a 3/4 bed, meaning it's larger than a twin but smaller than a full. This is the first time it's been bathed in blue for a little boy.

Both of these pieces now reside in H's room.

Big Boy Room

2009-12-07T16:33:00.003-06:00

H now has his big boy room. We took down the crib on Saturday, H even helped, so obviously he was more than ready to be in the big bed. He's done great. The first night he woke up twice but since then has done really well. And he's so proud of himself. He gets up every morning and says, "I sleep in my big boy bed, Mommy!" The room looks really good, too. Much more room in which to play. Now it just needs some finishing touches like pictures on the wall.

I must admit I cried. I didn't think I would be that emotional but when push came to shove, I lost it. I realized that the crib has been in that room since we moved into the house, except for a brief period when we moved L into K's room and she was still in the crib. And I didn't just get teary, I really cried. Oh, I was pitiful. It's just moving from one phase to another. Watching the kids grow is wonderful but I think it's important to remember what they were like when they were little, to celebrate their present accomplishments, and look forward to the next stage. That's the joy of being a mama!

Growing Up Fast

2009-12-02T15:19:00.004-06:00

Yesterday at nap time, H told me he wanted to sleep in his big boy bed. I asked him if he wanted to sleep in his crib or his big boy bed and he said, "I sleep in big boy bed." So I got his pillow and Barkers, his favorite stuffed dog, and he laid down and went to sleep. Just like that. He did the same at bed time last night although, in the middle of the night, he fell out of the big boy bed and S put him in the crib. But at nap time today he asked to be in the big boy bed yet again and we had a successful nap sans crib.

A few weeks ago, I thought about getting the crib out of H's room and setting it up to be a "regular" bedroom. I have a vision of what I want the room to look like and the crib doesn't fit into the plan any longer. But my plan was halted when I realized that H would be able to get out of bed whenever he wanted and could possibly give up nap time. Plus I really want him to stay in his crib as long as possible. We only took L out of the crib when we needed to set up the room for H's arrival.

So when he asked to sleep in the big bed, I wasn't prepared. I thought I would be able to handle it but it's the end of an era. Once that crib comes down, it won't go back up again. It's down for good. There's no more preparing for a baby; it's now take the crib down and store it until I decide what to do with it (really don't want to sell it or give it away). While I am perfectly fine with the size of the family (I don't feel the need to have another baby; our family is complete and I know that in my heart), I hate to see the boy growing up as fast as he is.

At the same time, there's the excitement of the next stage, of no more diapers, of starting preschool, of seeing H go through the stages the girls have already long since left behind. So today I am sad to see the end of the crib era but thankful that I have the babies I do and the time I have with them now.

I'll leave you with a conversation I had with H over the Thanksgiving holiday:

Me: H, may I see your airplane?

H: No.

Me: Why not?

H: Because no.

Me: Because no?

H: Exactly.

Lest You Think...

2009-11-30T19:20:00.004-06:00

...I have given up blogging forever, I haven't. All is fine at Mama's house, well as fine as it can be with three children. I made a pseudo-commitment to take a break from blogging. I thought it would be a two week break not a two month break. I would love to say that something wonderful was happening whilst on self-imposed break but it wasn't anything different than normal. I've driven the kids to school, gone to the gym, gone grocery shopping, worked, and driven carpool. Then there's the house keeping, cleaning, and cooking that has to be done as well. So that's what has consumed my break. See? It's not glamorous.

Here's what's happened since I last blogged:

L got a second cast on her wrist after they x-rayed it to make sure the bone was healing properly and discovered that she had stuck a penny in it
H got his first big boy hair cut
If K grows any more she's going to be taller than me by the time she's eight. And I'm not short.
S has been to the UK twice
We went on a very short getaway with Sporty Mama and her Hubby
I've watched too many AU losses although our most recent loss was one I was actually ok with. Frankly, I thought we would get our butts handed to us and we hung on until the very end. I was extremely proud of those guys for showing up and giving us a great game. WAR EAGLE!
I had a fabulous birthday dinner lovingly prepared by my sweet husband, complete with steak au poivre, fresh asparagus and angel food cake with strawberry sauce and fresh whipped cream

Now you're caught up. I've learned that working a part-time job is a full-time job in and of itself. The hours really are great and I still get to do things with friends when I can, I can still do field trips and class parties, I just have to make sure my job is done first. There are days when I'm happy to be there and days when I wish I were anywhere but there. That's not all that different than my job as a mom. I have those days when I wouldn't trade any of it and days when I wish I could be beamed to a quiet spa island where no one asks me for anything.

I can dream, can't I?

P.S. Not sure why H looks so worried...

More Pictures from Auburn

2009-10-02T12:30:00.005-05:00

Some Things Never Change

2009-09-15T20:21:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to go to Auburn for the weekend and go to the game thanks to some wonderful and very generous friends. We were able to take all 3 kids with us as the very generous friends just so happened to have five tickets to the game. They were also on the 40-yard line. Plus we got to see several dear friends, one who lives there and one who wishes she did (you know who you are). Doesn't get much better than that.

So I began composing this post in my head while I was in Auburn. It won't be nearly as eloquent now since I've forgotten most of it. We had a fabulous time. The kids were great, we stayed in a suite a couple of blocks (!) from the stadium and got to walk around my old stomping grounds. (The kids were none too pleased with the amount of walking we did.)

I must say that lots of things have changed since I've been at Auburn: there are a ton of new dorms, they've re-routed roads, there's a new arena, a new parking deck (where the old athletic complex used to be that burned down during a football game which I attended and saw smoke and flames rising just above the student section), and plenty of new buildings that house various schools and colleges. They have done a great job in keeping with the look of the campus, not putting up some hideous building that doesn't go with anything else around it. So it sort of looks the same if you ignore all the new stuff. Make sense?

Anyway, one thing that never changes is the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It's been four years since I've been to a football game and it felt exactly the same as it did when I was there. The scoreboard is different and they've added some seats but it's still got the same feel, the same electricity that is Auburn football. When I took S to his first Auburn/Alabama game, I knew he would never look at football the same way and it's very true. The fans are still just as passionate about their Tigers, I still love seeing Aubie and his antics (which was, by far, my kids' favorite part of being at the game), I still love watching a game in person. And it's one of those things you have to experience yourself to truly appreciate it.

I believe in Auburn and love it!

My Brain is a Ball of Mush

2009-09-01T14:10:00.004-05:00

It's true. These days my brain really is a ball of mush. I guess working on top of being a mom will do that to you. Well, that and a broken washing machine. It just quit on me Friday in the middle of a load. So I had to empty the water on to the back porch, wring out all the clothes and take them to my in laws' house. Let me just say that I never realized how much laundry I did until I had to take it elsewhere. Our family of five generates some dirty clothes! Praise the Lord for the in laws; otherwise I'd be going to the laundromat.

We're still getting used to the school schedule which seems to be going well but it's hard to get the kids to bed earlier. While it's nice for S and I to have a little more quiet time in the evening, losing just 30 minutes is a lot!

The job is going quite well even though I have H with me in the tiny school kitchen. It's really a pretty good deal except I'm on my feet all day. As long as there is plenty of food for him, H stays out of the way and even helps sometimes. The only issue I've had is the sweet little first and second graders who come through to heat up a lunch they've brought from home. If there are 10 kids who have to heat their lunch and I only allow them one minute to do so, that's 10 minutes that kids are standing there heating things up. And here are a few examples of the questions I hear over and over:

How long do I heat this up?
Do you have a plate?
How does this microwave work?
Do you have a spoon?
Where is the trash can?
This is too hot.
Can you open this for me?

I honestly would love to help all of them but I can't seeing as I'm slightly busy handing out the 120 lunches that were ordered. It's craziness I tell ya! I had one 11th grader tell me that she was never again bringing something to heat up. Granted, there is more than one microwave but with the shear volume of children coming through to heat things up, it feels like there's only one.

So here's a recommendation to you parents who send lunches that need to be warmed up: don't. It makes life easier on everyone. But please know that your children are sweet even if they aren't old enough to work the microwave. Maybe I can teach a class on microwave use while I'm waiting to pick up L. Sounds good to me!

First Day of School 2009

2009-08-26T19:18:00.003-05:00

It has come and gone. The first day of the 2009-2010 school year, that is. K is now officially a second grader and L is a kindergartner. I was slightly choked up when L went to her classroom and began her work. She did exactly what she was supposed to do without having to be reminded. I thought I would be okay but I was a ball of mush. It doesn't get any easier with the second one.

I have found my return to work to be exhausting. It's been almost 8 years since I've worked outside the home and it's tough even though it's only a couple of hours each day. The nice thing is that the day goes by quickly with the rush of lunches and kids and teachers and kids and food and all sorts of other stuff. Last night I crashed at 9:00 and woke up at 6:00am having not moved one bit. I'm pretty sure I was tired.

I have some sweet pictures of the girls on their first day, complete with new backpacks but I haven't uploaded them from the camera. That's mainly because I'm lazy and won't go downstairs right now to get the camera so I can put pictures on the blog.

It's been well worth it, though, to be around my girls all day and to see the kids in the school. They are a great group of kids and I'm having fun getting to know them even if it's only for a moment.

So Here's What's Going On

2009-08-15T09:34:00.002-05:00

I have been neglecting this blog all summer long. It's hard to find the time to sit down at my own computer and write about, well, nothing. But that's why I started this: to have a record of my children's life and to get out all the things in my head. I would love to be more faithful to this blog (I feel like I've been cheating on her) but life has gotten in the way.

We got back from a trip to my hometown on Tuesday. It was wonderful and we were able to extend our stay one day because S had to work. He had too many conference calls on Monday to be able to sit in a car and try to work while 3 children were creating background noise. He went with us since he can work from just about anywhere. That was certainly a blessing for the car ride. It's always easier than being the lone adult in the car for 5 hours.

We got the chance to ride a real train while we were there. There's an antique rail not too far from my hometown so we went with Papa and PJ and rode the train. It was so much fun. There was an outdoor car and an air-conditioned indoor car. H thought it was a little loud while we were on the outdoor car so we moved inside about half-way through the trip. The air felt good since it was 90+ outside. Even with a breeze in your face, it was still really hot.

So what else is new? Well, I'm officially a working mom. I've taken a position at our school, coordinating lunches, organizing them, and handing them out. No, I'm not the lunch lady. I'm the lunch coordinator. I do get paid (not much) but I do get a really good discount on our tuition. And that makes all the difference in our economy today. Plus, whatever I make gets deducted from the tuition so we're not going to have any monthly payment. Oh, and H gets to go with me so there's no need for child care. And I get Fridays off. It's win-win. While this isn't my ideal job, it's a great way to ease back into the working world.

So that's the news from the 3m's Mama house. What's new with you?

Summer is Winding Down

2009-08-03T16:23:00.002-05:00

As we move into these last few weeks before school starts, I must look back at what a wonderful summer we've had so far. I remember the last day of school in May, thinking that we had so much time this summer, it was going to be long and what was I going to do with three children at home all day with nothing to do?

The answer didn't come right away. We had to find things to do, take short day trips, host friends, play with family. We had several guests stay with us including Sporty Mama, had a big birthday party for L, and hosted S's sister for 2 weeks. Her four children stayed at the grandparents' house and took turns staying with us. We had a fabulous time with all of these people, ate really good food and laughed a lot.

The girls are getting excited about school starting (that will eventually fade so I'm trying to encourage it for as long as I can), especially L who will be starting Kindergarten. I know I'll be a ball of mush on the first day of school and must remember to have tissues in my purse that day. We've purchased school supplies, new backpacks and Gran surprised the girls with new lunch bags which are really cute. I think I need to have them monogrammed.

Now summer isn't totally over. We're heading North to visit Nana, Papa & PJ at the end of this week. We have a few more day trips planned, a few play dates with friends and possibly a day trip with Daddy who was gone for most of the month of June. He also went on a last minute trip a couple of weeks ago and has been holed up in his home office ever since. While he is technically home all the time, we still miss him.

I'm very thankful for the time I've had with K, L and H this summer. We've had some wonderful times and we've had some difficult times. Tempers flare a little more easily when you're together all the time. That being said, I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

Five

2009-07-18T16:35:00.003-05:00

At five, L seems to me to be smaller than I remember K being. While L is smaller physically, she has personality to spare. She loves to be in the spotlight and puts on shows for us regularly, our living room her stage. She wants to be a rock star when she grows up.

She's feisty and fun but knows just the right time to cuddle. She still has remnants of the curls I so loved when she was around 18 months old. She gets the worst cases of bed head. She sleeps on her stomach with her arms wrapped around her pillow. She loves to play with her brother unless he has something she wants. She knows his buttons and K's too. She's athletic and can hang with the boys all the while in a princess dress. She looks just like her father.

She can do anything she puts her mind to yet she surprises me sometimes with her shyness. But she doesn't hold back too much. She told me just the other day that she liked a boy (I've spoken of him before). She said, "Mommy? I really like H." "I know you do, baby," I replied. "No, Mommy, I really like him."

I think we're in trouble.

Seven

2009-07-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

I truly can't believe seven years have passed since K was born. While she wasn't exactly the tiny baby I had envisioned (9lbs, 12oz isn't a newborn; it's a three-month-old), she was this perfect little being for whom I was responsible. I remember picking her up out of the bassinet at the hospital. I was all alone with this precious baby, tears in my eyes experiencing a love I'd never known before (and only slightly scared).

The very first thing I noticed about K were the dimples on both cheeks just under her eyes. Those are not very common and were a completely unexpected surprise. She still has them and they make me melt every time I see them. She knows it, too.

I have watched her grow and change over this last year. She's physically much taller than she was at six, almost up to my shoulder. She has gone from looking like a little girl to looking like a young lady.

She has a very tender heart, always one to reach out to those in need. She loves to read, is quiet at school and loud at home. She looks out for H and has a lifelong friend in L. And she still finds comfort in her mother's and father's arms. May it always be that way.

It's scary in a way. We still have the 'tween and teen years to look forward to so I'm going to cherish the time I have when she still wants to hold my hand, sit in my lap, and will let me kiss her goodbye at school. She's growing up too fast but she'll always be my baby.

Fruits of Summer

2009-07-16T22:15:00.004-05:00

I have always had a love/hate relationship with summer. Summer is just plain hot and I really don't like being hot. Sweating is not something I cherish. I spent all my summers during college at a camp in Alabama so trust me when I say I know hot. And humid, too. Oh, it's humid here. We tried to have a picnic at the park today but it was just too hot to stay more than 30 minutes. The kids weren't thrilled about having to leave but Mama couldn't handle the heat any more. So we took the picnic home.

On the other hand, there are the wonderful fruits of summer that I just love. Blueberries, strawberries, plums, tomatoes, blackberries and peaches. Of those, peaches are, by far, my favorite. I have fond memories of driving down the interstate to get to the closest peach orchards. We'd stop at the farm stand and get their fresh, homemade peach ice cream. Oh, it was heavenly. And our local farmer's market always had lots of Chilton County peaches that I still prefer to any others. (I realize there is much debate about who grows the best peaches but I'm an Alabama peach fan.)

So when my in-laws stopped in South Carolina on their way down here and purchased a boat load of peaches, I happily took some of them off their hands. Oh, were they good. (Not as good as Chilton County peaches but close.) A friend of mine called them "back porch fruits" because they were so juicy that you had to eat them on the back porch to keep from making a big mess inside.

I found a recipe for a peach pie and knew these delicious fruits were destined to be baked in a pie, surrounded by caramel, encased in a buttery, flaky pie crust. I had enough peaches to make the pie with some to spare. Those were cut up and served with breakfast the next morning. There were no leftovers.

Changes

2009-07-14T16:22:00.003-05:00

Well, it just about killed me to change the "About Me" paragraph to the right to reflect the girls' changes in age. I got teary watching K open her presents last week and laughed watching L open her presents at her birthday party. I have so much to say about each one of them. I have enjoyed getting to watch them grow and change over the last year, watching personalities blossom. Not only do the look different, they have very different personalities. They are currently happily playing with each other in their room, enjoying one of L's prizes from her party. I'll post all about the birthdays when I can access my big computer that has all the pictures on it. Hope all is well!

The Case of the Delinquent Blogger

2009-07-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

Oh, I've been so neglectful of this blog as of late. It's getting to be that season around our house where things kick into high gear. VBS was this week and I was very involved in that, mostly behind-the-scenes. I'm no teacher but organizing registration I can do. We had a great turn out even though lots of families were on vacation for the 4th of July.

Speaking of July, it is a big birthday month around here with K's one week and L's the next. Usually it isn't so stressful but this year is L's 5th birthday and that means she gets a big party with all her friends and balloons and cake and the rest of the works that come with child's birthday party. We do big parties at 5, 10, and 16 and family celebrations for the others. I got that idea from S's brother so kudos to him and his wife for sharing that with me. It seems to make the parties that much more special and is a lot less work for me.

I've been busy making arrangements for said party, reserving a large water slide for our back yard, printing and mailing invites, and just generally organizing everything. It seems to be falling into place but this week is proving to be a crazy one. I am thankful that we can do this for L but I have a feeling I'm going to crash next Saturday night.

I plan to return to regular mundane blogging at some point just not this week. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Generation Gap

2009-06-22T21:48:00.002-05:00

Nana is visiting and gave me a much-needed break from the kids. S has been gone for most of the month of June and I needed a few moments to myself. So she told me to go get a pedicure while she bathed the kids and put them in bed.

While the kids were still in the tub, K yelled to Nana that L had said a bad word. A really bad word. Here's how the rest of the conversation went:

K: Nana, L said a really bad word. She said the S-H word.
Nana (trying to figure out where in the world L heard the S-H word): L, why did you say that?
L: I wanted H to be quiet.
Nana (breathing a bit of a sigh of relief): Oh, you said Shhhhhhh.
K: No she said the whole thing. The whole S-H-U-T-U-P.
Nana (attempting to stifle laughter so that L would know that saying the whole S-H-U-T-U-P is not a good thing [but saying it in her sweetest voice]): Well, I bet that if I let you play in the tub a little longer that you won't say that to H again.
L: Yes ma'am.

A Funny H Story

2009-06-21T19:36:00.002-05:00

While I have pictures to post and lots of fun things to share, this story is short enough to share quickly. We've been super busy over the last several weeks and I will share our goings-on over this week. For now, here's the funny H story.

Sporty Mama was here with her family last weekend for a much-needed visit. We had a great time just being together, laughing, listening, venting, eating, and drinking.

SM's hubby had a pair of black Crocs that he wore most of the time he was here. However, when he went to put them on Sunday morning, they were nowhere to be found. We asked the kids if they had seen them (of course they hadn't), checked under every piece of furniture, searched high and low. No Crocs. We even checked under every bed and in the garage. No Crocs. We searched the backyard and the front yard. No Crocs.

Monday morning, as they were preparing to depart sans Crocs, SM and I did one more sweep of the entire grounds searching for the Crocs. We just couldn't imagine where they had gone. It was as if they had legs of their own and had crawled off seeking freedom.

Then I had a stroke of genius. You see, H loves to put shoes away, especially Daddy's shoes. So when I checked S's shoe rack in our closet, there they were: one pair of black Crocs.

If only he'd do that with his toys!

I Thought Summer Was Supposed to be Lazy

2009-06-11T10:23:00.002-05:00

Gone are those lazy summer days about which I was so excited. Our June calendar is now filled and July is slowly filling up. I keep looking at our fridge calendar to make sure I don't forget anything.

We've got two girls from a youth choir coming to spend the night tonight. My dear friend, Sporty Mama, is coming tomorrow to stay through Monday. VBS at our friend's church starts Monday and I have a girls' night planned for Monday night. Swim lessons start on the 22nd and we've got our church's VBS starting the following week. So these lazy days where nothing is happening seem to be long gone. I'm hoping July won't be as crazy.

Of course, there's L's 5th birthday party (her very first big birthday party), K's birthday, and a visit from Papa and PJ. So why am I blogging when there's much to be done? Procrastination, my favorite thing ever.

My mouth is feeling much better, thank you, after two days of soreness and sensitivity. I was still chewing funny last night and S even commented on it. I feel like such a wimp!

I will post pictures of my visit with Sporty Mama as long as I remember to actually take pictures. Have a great weekend, friends!

File This Under "Things I Do Not Recommend"

2009-06-08T19:50:00.003-05:00

I went to the dentist today for the second time in a month. Why, you may ask? Because I had not one but two (!) cavities. I thought cavities were reserved for little kids and possibly teenagers but I am, at 32, not immune to these nasty little boogers.

So I sat in the dentist's chair and proceeded to have him stick my mouth with needles (thank heaven for numbing medicine) and then drill on two different teeth on either side of my mouth in what was possibly the longest 30-45 minutes of my life. I do not enjoy the dentist in the first place but this was just a nightmare. Don't get me wrong. My dentist is a nice guy and did a great job. He was very reassuring through the whole thing. "You're doing great," he said as he drilled deeper into my tooth, sending shock waves down to my toes.

Now that the numbing medicine has worn off (which he must have done a very good job of administering because my lower left jaw was numb until about 2:00) there is this very dull ache in my mouth. The top front tooth that was filled is very, very sensitive to hot and cold. And the back molar just plain hurts.

So here's my advice: Brush and floss, people. Brush and floss.

Up

2009-06-07T19:51:00.002-05:00

Today was a fantastic day. Just plain fantastic. I got to sleep in a little, as did the entire family. H was the first one up at just before 8am. S cooked a wonderful pancake breakfast and I woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

We have some college students visiting our church this summer as part of a campus ministry mission trip. We've "adopted" two of them and had them for lunch. They are great kids and it was fun to have some older young people in the house. Both S and I really enjoyed their company. And our "son" can eat. I love cooking for people who like to eat! We sent them home with all the leftovers we could. The one thing they don't get very much of is home cooking while down here. So they are usually pretty grateful for anything homemade.

Just after they left, we put the kids in the car and went to see "Up." (L calls it "Up the movie") It was great. They all sat there like little angels, enthralled with the movie. Even H had a good time and wasn't running all over the place. The dog truly is the best part of the movie. Just trust me.

We took our time getting home, stopping by a local ice cream parlor for a cool treat. We don't often do things like this but it really was such a nice evening. And H got a free cone since he's a little guy. Can't beat free! He ended up wearing the majority of it, trying to use his "free sample" spoon instead of licking it off the cone. It's moments like that I'm glad I'm not an OCD mom.

While I would love for every day to be like this one, I'm sure I wouldn't appreciate it as much if these days were the norm.

Lazy Summer

2009-06-05T09:32:00.004-05:00

Here's what I love about summer days when we have nothing on the schedule: sleeping in. I have still kept up my exercise routing, trying to go to the gym 4 days a week. I still really don't enjoy the gym but I know it's good for me and good for my kids to see me do it. And when there's a class I regularly attend, someone always asks where I was, why I missed the class. Accountability, it is a good friend.

So this morning, with all my good intentions of going to the gym for Spinning, I stayed in bed. The kids slept later than normal and all ended up in my bed, snuggling up nice and cozy. And I soaked up every minute of it knowing that one day, all too soon, they'll have no desire to do that.

I actually cooked a proper breakfast this morning, eggs in a hole (bird in the nest, whatever you want to call it) and it was delicious. After a week of cereal and Pop Tarts, this was a welcome reprieve.

We went to two birthday parties yesterday afternoon, one for L's friend H and one for K's friend N. H is L's little "boyfriend." They stuck by each other for most of the party. And when L cried at the end of the party because she wanted a balloon and I told her no, H, taking care of her, immediately went to his mom and secured a balloon for L. He was not going to have her leave his party unhappy. Ah, young love.

Then it was off to N's party. Fortunately I didn't have to stay for that one as a friend agreed to bring K home. She had a blast and was so worn out that by the time she got in her PJ's and put her head on her pillow, she was out. Didn't even stay awake for me to pray with her.

While that doesn't seem so lazy, it really is for us. And with the cloudy day we have today and nothing on our calendar, I'm taking the day to enjoy my kids. They are so special and growing up so fast!

L as Super Girl, dressed for H's super hero themed party. What you can't see is that she had on K's cowgirl boots.

Again, Mine

2009-05-31T20:55:00.003-05:00

End of the School Year

2009-05-26T13:18:00.005-05:00

While the last week of school is always a whirlwind, there are some really fun things that happen. L's end of the year party was rained out so we improvised and had it at the school rather than the pool party that was planned. It was still great fun and everyone had a good time, including H.

K's end of the year party was held at a local water park. The day started off cool and overcast but the clouds broke and the sun appeared for most of the morning. It started raining as we were on our way home. Did I mention that the entire elementary school went along? Since we go to such a small school, we were able to rent out the small water park and have just our kids there. It really was fun. L was able to go, too, since our school really is family-oriented. We were all exhausted when we got home.

K got two awards on the last day of school. One was for the Headmaster's Honor Roll with Distinction, which means that she never had anything less than an A on her report card. She also won the computer technology award for first grade. That one cracked me up because up until now we haven't let her play on the computer at home. I guess she's a computer whiz at school!

From the ballet recital last weekend

I know this isn't the best picture but I really like it for some strange reason...

Whirlwind

2009-05-21T14:52:00.003-05:00

The last two weeks of school are exactly that: a whirlwind. We've been so busy that I've needed to go to bed earlier than normal just to keep up with the pace. With something special/out-of-the-ordinary-routine going on each day, we've had no time to just be. I'm truly looking forward to not driving to school every day!

We had the girls' ballet recital last weekend and they were beautiful. K did both ballet and tap and did such a good job. And L is definitely a performer. She knew the routine better than anyone (her ballet teacher even commented on how well she did). I'll post pictures when they get downloaded. That's not an easy feat these days as S's new home office is upstairs where the computer is. And when he's finally done for the day, I'm busy with dinner and bedtime routines and don't feel like going upstairs to download pictures. Go figure. (At this point we're just happy that he has a job and has work to do. Even though it's a lot, it's work he's getting paid for.)

So what else has been going on? Let's see. L told me that her little friend (of the male persuasion), H, thinks that she's "hot." (That was her word, not mine.) H, thanks to his father, now calls pigs "bacon." Any time he sees a picture of a pig he says, "bacon." Insert exaggerated roll of the eyes here. L got promoted to Kindergarten on Tuesday night and sang loud enough that I could hear her above everyone else in her class. This dream of hers to become a singing star might actually come true. H has decided that he wants to start going on the potty. He's only made it once to the potty but we're working on it. My prayer is that we'll be done with diapers this time next year. One can dream...

That's the story of the last two weeks. My goal for the weekend is to rest and to finally get my house in order. It's a mess!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-11T10:03:00.003-05:00

Many years ago, when S and I first were dating, I just so happened to be graduating from Auburn. I was in DC and had to go to AU to graduate so I had a party just before I left to celebrate my achievements (really just the one). Several friends gave me Congrats cards but S's card was the most special for several reasons.

First, it was from him. Second, it was a very unexpected card: a Happy Bat Mitzvah card. See, it's really hard to find Graduation cards in December so he went with what he could find. Never mind that neither of us are Jewish. So he crossed out Bat Mitzvah and wrote "Graduation." The funny thing was that the words on the card were entirely appropriate for someone who was graduating. "You're growing up", "You're moving to the next stage" kinds of things.

Why am I telling you this in relation to Mother's Day? Well, yesterday when my sweet children and husband brought me breakfast in bed, I opened the card from the kids first. Guess what? It was a Happy Bat Mitzvah card! They picked it out with no help from S. I know why they picked it out, too. The picture on the front was a very cute cartoon girl with lots of girly colors surrounding it. It was not at all appropriate for Mother's Day but I still cherish it. I guess they're more like their father than I thought!

A Heartfelt Thanks

2009-05-06T14:47:00.002-05:00

Sunday afternoon while I was on the phone with Nana, I happened to glance at my trusty fridge calendar (if it's not on there, I'll forget everything that's going on) and realized that L had snack on Monday. I looked through my cabinets and found absolutely nothing that would suffice for snack. A trip to the store on Sunday at 5:00 was not what I wanted to do but it had to be done. Plus we needed eggs so I took H and off we went.

I came up with a good, homemade trail mix that I knew the kids would like, grabbed eggs and milk and went home. Now one of the things I love about our new car (the one we got last February) is the auto rear door feature. It was worth every penny the upgrade cost us. However, I was none too pleased with it when I opened the back and my 18 eggs fell to the ground. Oh, I was just devastated. 3 of them were a total loss and 6 more were cracked open but salvageable. So I had to come up with something that could be made right then other than scrambled eggs since we'd had those for breakfast.

I came up with a sour cream pound cake. It's S's favorite but we still had H's birthday cake hanging around and I didn't want two cakes in my house. What to do?

I gave it away to some very special people. The night H was born, our local fire department/EMTs were the first on the scene and really did the work to save our lives. One of them even came to see me the next morning in the ICU because he was so surprised that we'd actually survived! So I took the fresh pound cake to our local fire department with a thank you note and told the chief about the night H was born. I thanked him, from the bottom of my heart, for their quick response and doing all they could to get me the help I needed. It was a long overdue thank you! He gave me the standard "It's our job, it's what we're here for" speech but they were so much more to me that May night.

Our fire/police/EMTs are so overlooked and under appreciated. We often take them for granted until we really need them. We're certainly thankful we have them around!

Easter and Beyond

2009-05-02T11:48:00.004-05:00

I realize Easter was almost a month ago but I have just now downloaded the pics from my camera to my computer. We've had lots of fun over the last month and here is proof positive.

Nostalgia

2009-05-01T17:31:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is H's 2nd birthday. In some ways it seems like it's been forever and in some ways it's flown by. All you mamas out there will understand. There are days you think will never end and there are days you turn around and your baby is two. I'm not sure if it's more difficult because he's the baby or because of the circumstances surrounding his birth. It's difficult nonetheless.

S and I were talking about that fateful night a few days ago, about what we remember happening. While it seems to still be so fresh in my mind, there are many gaps that I just can't fill in. There are times when I can talk about it freely and openly, sharing the amazing story of the night H was born, the night God did so many miracles I lost count. And then there are times when the mere thought of it all brings me to tears and I must move on to something else lest I become a puddle of mush.

H is now a beautiful two-year-old boy, thriving, a miracle in my home. Sometimes I think about what my life would be like if we'd stopped after having just one baby. Life would be simpler, I'd be freer to do more, there wouldn't be nearly as much laundry, the house would be quieter. But I remember that the reverse is also true: life would be emptier, there wouldn't be as many cute dresses that make K and L look like princesses and precious button-down shirts that make H look like a little man, and the house would be almost hollow. Those sounds of laughter, of tears, of little voices wouldn't be there. And my life wouldn't be as full.

Last year, when I put H to bed the night before his first birthday, I cuddled him, rocked him in my arms and got teary as I said goodnight to my baby boy. I know I'll do the same tonight.

Here's to H, may you have a happy birthday and try not to grow up too fast.

You Can't Get Rid of Us That Easily

2009-04-22T14:52:00.004-05:00

It's been way too long since I last posted and much has happened in that time. This is really the first opportunity I've had to sit down and think about what I can post. I have some sweet Easter pics to share and a few from our visit to the strawberry patch. The only issue is that they're still on the camera which is downstairs and I'm too lazy to go get it. Such is life.

Now on to what's really on my mind. I mentioned awhile back that S lost his job, got a new one, and we were going to have to move. This was not something I was thrilled about. I am willing to do it but not just super happy about it. However, we got word today that S is being moved to another contract, which means a different job that will allow him to work from home wherever that home may be. Which means we don't have to move.

I am BEYOND thrilled. The emotional roller coaster I've ridden over the last 4+ months has really taken its toll. And I've been forced to my knees, praying for God's guidance and wisdom, seeking to do His will. The journey has been rough and it's going to be another adjustment having S working from home rather than being gone all the time but it's an adjustment I'm willing to make!

A huge thank you to all of you who prayed faithfully for us. We have certainly felt it!

Coming Soon to a TV Near You

2009-04-11T14:58:00.003-05:00

One of the benefits of living in a small town is that you get to know lots of connected people very quickly. A friend of ours sells ads for a local TV station and was filming a commercial for a new mattress company that just happens to be minutes from our house.

So when he called and asked if we had a large teddy bear that could be used for the commercial and did we have some PJ's for his daughter since his wife forgot to bring some and would K like to be in the commercial, too, I said yes. Oh, by the way, we'll be there in 10 minutes.

It turned out to be great. I happened to have two nightgowns that matched and the girls, K and her friend, N, were great little actresses. They really only had to pretend to sleep on this very large teddy bear. And they looked so sweet in their matching outfits. Of course, I forgot the camera in the haste to get out of the house!

(Consequently, we have said bear because it was a Christmas present for H. Only he's petrified of it since it's bigger than he is so the bear now lives with Gran.)

Insert Title Here

2009-04-06T18:05:00.003-05:00

I can't seem to come up with a title for this as it's such a random post. Yesterday the kids were playing outside in the afternoon when the sprinklers came on. Instead of running inside, they decided to run in the sprinklers. In their clothes. They were having such a good time, I just couldn't make them stop. When the sprinklers went off, they were very distraught so S turned them back on for a few more minutes of fun. They were all sopping wet and immediately went into the tub. Of course I didn't have my camera and was having too much fun watching them so I have no pics to share.

S surprised me Saturday night by telling me that his boss told him to work from home this week. I cried when he said this as he's been gone for the last two months with only one week at home. Such a sweet blessing.

And I'll leave you with an L-ism:
L: Mama, do you know what?
Me: Yes, and his brother Why.
L: No, it doesn't have anything to do with H!

It's Been Too Long

2009-04-05T15:55:00.005-05:00

It's been too long since my last post but there's good reason for it. We celebrated spring break in what will be our new home town. S was already there working so I took the kids there on last Friday and came home Wednesday. While it was a bit of a working vacation (we looked at houses both Saturday and Monday) we were able to enjoy the pool at the hotel and visit the local zoo.

I was afraid H would be difficult to deal with at the zoo since he is so little. But he actually enjoyed it. He's not a big fan of animals but they were far enough away for him to be comfortable. His favorite thing was the train. Now he knows that a train says, "Choo-choo!" My favorite part was getting to feed the Loreys. They are beautiful birds and LOVE to be fed their special nectar. It really is a treat to them. At one point I had three birds on me, all jockeying for the nectar. The keeper told me that the best time to come is first thing in the morning when you can have 10-15 birds on you at once!

Here are a few things I learned while on the trip:

-H can unbuckle his seat belt: both the part that goes across his chest and the one that actually secures his car seat

-I have mastered the art of re-buckling a child while driving and not swerving

-3 kids in a car for more than 2 hours with only one parent isn't easy

-House-hunting with 3 kids is even worse

-L is a person who should never have bangs

-Children are very uncooperative at the end of a long day

-Actually being able to go somewhere for spring break is a blessing

And here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip.

It's Delicious But Not So Nutritious

2009-03-24T15:56:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, S was making his usual lunch, a PB&J (peach preserves, to be exact). As he reached for the bread he asked, "Since when do we eat white bread?" I replied, "Since it was on sale at the grocery store for 50 cents a loaf."

I realize that white bread isn't all that nutritious and I've honestly gotten used to whole grain breads even though a PB&J still doesn't taste quite right. But I really couldn't pass up a loaf of bread for 50 cents. I bought a couple of loaves and put them in the freezer.

So this morning when I made cinnamon toast for breakfast, K exclaimed, "Yea! We get white bread! It's so yummy!" I figure a few sandwiches made with white bread isn't going to kill the kids. Plus it's a good thing they consider it to be a treat!

If I Had a Sledgehammer...

2009-03-17T14:14:00.003-05:00

...I'd use it on my washing machine. I'm so tired of that thing always being off balance. When we bought it, we had very little money and bought the most expensive one we could afford. Not bottom-of-the-line but pretty close. And it has served me well for many years. It still serves me well as long as there are clothes in there. But if there are sheets or towels in it, it throws it off balance. I used my trusty level and there's nothing uneven about it. It lines up nice and neat.

I'm so done with this thing it's not even funny.

Dinner For Two

2009-03-15T15:19:00.004-05:00

Last night, S and I had the pleasure of dining at home sans children. We dropped the kids off at Gran and Granddad's where they spent the night. While we could have gone out, we opted to stay in and cook some wonderful food. On the menu:

Mixed greens salad with warm goat cheese, balsamic reduction and olive oil

Peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin with a mushroom cognac cream sauce, served with a side of steamed asparagus

It's a good thing we didn't have anything planned for dessert!

Captured Through the Lens

2009-03-10T10:18:00.004-05:00

H + Quiet= Trouble

2009-03-03T09:11:00.002-06:00

Whilst writing that last post, this is what H was up to:

No it didn't snow on my kitchen table. I guess he thought we had too much sodium in our diets and we need to cut back. He's thoughtful that way.

Tom Becker Strikes Again

2009-03-03T08:47:00.003-06:00

On Saturday, Tom Becker struck again and this time brought L her very own bike. That Tom, he sure is thoughtful. Only this one didn't have training wheels so Granddad had to put some on there for L. The girls spent most of Saturday riding around on the back porch. I'm thinking a trip to a large parking lot and/or a bike trail is in order.

Taking Pictures

2009-03-02T12:15:00.005-06:00

I've decided that I need to be better about taking pictures of my children, of cool things I see around the house and, well, just about anything. I have a fantastic camera (Nikon D40x, not the highest end of the camera spectrum but still just as good) and it takes beautiful pictures. I wish I knew how to do more with it but that requires sitting down and actually reading the manual, something I don't really have time to do.

I'm not a collector of anything really but I found this camera at a flea market in Virginia about 7 years ago. According to a little research I did, I found that the Kodak Duaflex IV was manufactured by Kodak from 1947-1960. It takes 620 film (which isn't easy to come by) and is a fixed focus camera. That means that you'd better know what you're doing or your picture won't be clear. My grandfather had an old camera that I got when he died and this one, somehow, reminds me of him even though it's not the one he had.H's newest passion is books. What a great passion! He loves to bring me books and we read them and then look back through all the pictures. K loves to read and I think she's being a wonderful role model. At least she's teaching him something positive!

This has been a lazy morning, cold and quiet so I've enjoyed playing with H, savoring every minute of his toddler-hood. It won't last long.

The First of the Season

2009-02-28T14:15:00.002-06:00

One of the benefits of living in the South is that we get the first fruits of the season. These beautiful strawberries are a lively punch of rich red on a blustery day.

Mine

2009-02-27T14:22:00.002-06:00

Tom Becker

2009-02-27T14:11:00.005-06:00

When I first married into S's family, I was introduced (by proxy) to a gentleman named Tom Becker. I have grown to love Tom Becker as he tends to show up at Christmas and birthdays bearing lovely gifts. He's a bit like Santa and the Tooth Fairy in that he makes his presence known by leaving the gifts for you without being seen. He's quite sneaky that way.

Well, Tom made an appearance at our house on Wednesday evening by way of Gran and Granddad. Apparently Tom found a wonderful gift for K while he was out shopping and just had to give it to her even though it wasn't her birthday or Christmas. Here's what Tom Becker brought:

See? Doesn't he bring good gifts? Now Tom didn't want to leave out L or H and he brought them cute t-shirts from a local restaurant, complete with a picture of a volleyball-playing toucan. Of course, L would have preferred the bike but Tom hasn't found one that suits her just yet.

Taking Chance

2009-02-24T19:12:00.005-06:00

I saw this movie on Saturday and it was truly wonderful. Here's the story upon which this movie is based. I realize it's only on HBO for now so some of you may not get to see it but I know it'll be on DVD and then you must see it. Oh, and make sure you have a large box of Kleenex available. It even made S get misty.

Hair Disaster Pictures

2009-02-24T14:24:00.003-06:00

I wish I had a picture of the room post-shearing but I don't. The hairdos will have to suffice.

L before:

L after:
H before:

H after:

Home

2009-02-23T12:34:00.003-06:00

We got home from our little trip on Friday evening, exhausted and ready for bed even though it was only 6:30. I was so happy to see the kids in spite of the aforementioned exhaustion. Our trip was interesting and informative. I took the opportunity to drive around some neighborhoods and we looked at a few houses although I didn't see anything I just had to have.

In fact, this trip brought up a lot of emotions that have been boiling under the surface for quite awhile. There is some excitement about moving to a new city and discovering new things. I remember how thrilling it was to move to DC, to be the new girl, to meet new people and make new friends. It was invigorating and refreshing.

Now that I'm settled with a husband, three children, and a house to call my own, I don't want to move. I told S that I'd be happier about it if we were moving to a city where I really wanted to live. The move is going to be difficult no matter what but I could look forward to it if I really wanted to live in this city. But I don't. I have zero desire to live there, to raise my family there, to put down roots there.

We did get to go to a really nice Spanish restaurant that was so good I needed a wheelbarrow to carry me out at the end of the dinner. We went with S's new boss and his wife and they are truly lovely people and I think S will be happy working for him. I'm trying to find positives in this situation, knowing that God has a perfect plan for our family.

Out of Town

2009-02-18T14:26:00.003-06:00

I'm on a very unexpected trip to the city where S got his new job. They needed him here for a few days and I, at the very last minute, decided to come with him. I'm checking out houses, schools, and taking the time to relax and read.

I have pictures of the hair fiasco and L's hair turned out really cute. Even though we were trying to grow it out, the style fits her. H's hair is, well, buzzed and he looks so different but still has all his H personality. I will post them when I get home.

Have a blessed week!

In Everyone's Life a Little Hair Must Fall

2009-02-16T20:59:00.004-06:00

Tonight I was blessed with the opportunity to get out of the house for a couple of hours. A friend had invited me to a Tastefully Simple party and since I'd been cooped up with the kids for two weeks straight (S was away on business), I jumped at the chance to just be with other ladies.

My evening was wonderful and I planned to be home after the kids were in bed. However, when I pulled in the driveway, the light in the girls' room was still on. Not good. I walked in the door and was greeted by S with a look of utter frustration on his face. The girls got in a lot of trouble with, you guessed it, a pair of scissors.

He told me they had damaged a pop-up tent and K cut L's baby doll (which can easily be fixed. We'll just call it a small operation). I walked in the girls' room to check out the damage and was confronted with floor full of bits of cut up paper. I made the girls pick up all the little pieces and as I was folding a blanket that was in a pile on the floor, I saw what I had feared most: a chunk of L's hair. Let's just say that we're going to be taking a little trip to the hair salon tomorrow so that we can even things out a bit. And H will be getting in on the haircut action as K and L, apparently, bestowed on him the gift of the silver shears.

Pictures to follow for sure...

The Funny Never Stops

2009-02-15T22:06:00.002-06:00

Since the kids are out of school tomorrow, Nana, who is visiting for the weekend, took the girls to see a movie tonight. On the way home from the movie, Nana asked the girls if they knew where the new Starbucks was. K replied, "Focus, Nana. You need to focus on the road, not on Starbucks."

(Her project turned out great by the way)

This Shouldn't be Stressful for Me

2009-02-09T20:36:00.002-06:00

K has her very first school project that is due Friday. It's about the presidents K drew Calvin Coolidge and Harry S. Truman.

Now this project is very easy and completely geared to a first grader's developmental level. But at the bottom of the instruction sheet it says to be creative. How creative are we supposed to be? We're supposed to have a picture of the guy so does it have to be in color or can it be in black and white because my printer only prints black and white and we have a president from the 20's and the 40's and color pictures weren't just real popular back then. Do we need to decorate the paper with the president's favorite things? Should we have flag stickers and red, white, and blue decorations all around it? Ooh, what about glitter?

I just have to keep reminding myself that this isn't my project but K's. I want her to do well on her own, not be one of those moms who does projects "with" their children.

Speaking of K, I forgot to mention that she got student of the month for the first grade. Every other month, one student is selected from each grade based on their example of a specific virtue. January's virtue was kindness. She didn't know she was getting the award and was very surprised when her teacher called her name in front of the whole elementary school at chapel on Thursday. I was very proud of her and held back tears while her teacher told how K shows kindness in the classroom and everyday life.

What got me was what the teacher said about her. When it was time to choose student of the month, Mrs. E had a hard time choosing between 3 students. So she asked a colleague to weigh in. The colleague said of the three, she thought K was the best example of kindness in the classroom. So not only did her teacher recognize it but other faculty members notice it, too.

This Mama is PROUD!

(Still) Laughing

2009-02-07T16:05:00.003-06:00

The conversations I have with L just crack me up. She just has a way of phrasing things that are humorous. Here's the conversation we had last night at the dinner table:

L: Hey! There's Cinderella on my cup and she's wearing the same dress as me! (She had on her blue Cinderella princess dress)
Me: Yeah, you both look so pretty.
L: But hers is a little different right here (pointing to the chest region). Mommy? When am I going to get bras?
Me: (After pausing a moment to collect myself) What?
L: When am I going to get bras?
Me: Do you mean breasts?
L: Yeah.
Me: Um, probably not until you're 12 or 13.
L: Like when I'm in class and have earrings? Yay!

A Conversation

2009-02-05T13:15:00.002-06:00

...that went something like this:

L: Mommy, can we get (insert strange movie title that Mama doesn't know here)? I saw it at school.
K: What's it about?
L: I don't know, I haven't seen it. But it's short.
K: How do you know it's short?
L: 'Cause I'm FOUR!
K: But how do you know it's short if you haven't seen it?
L: 'Cause I'm smart. I have Smarties in my tummy!

It Was Bound to Happen

2009-02-04T11:20:00.004-06:00

While S and I have been dealing with the whole work situation, we've done our best to keep everything normal for the kids. We didn't quit any activities or move them from their school. Basically everything has been the same except for no job (until last Thursday).

A few weeks ago we had our first open house. We were running around like mad trying to get the house perfect for those who would be looking at it. We asked the girls to help by sweeping out their playhouse in the back yard. Well, K lost it. She is usually my most compliant child and she just lost it, throwing a full-on tantrum at 6 years old. This isn't normal. I sent her to her room for a time out to let her calm down. When I checked on her, she said she didn't want to leave her house or move or go to a new school or leave her friends. S and I prayed with her, for peace and for comfort. There is nothing like seeing your child in pain. Her fears were from the heart.

Last night, as I'm tucking the girls into bed, L lost it. She said the exact same things K had said just a few weeks earlier. This made me cry and the three of us girls sat on L's bed and prayed, again, for peace and comfort. We prayed that we'd make new friends and find a good school. K's prayer was so sweet for her sister and that made me even more teary.

While this situation has been difficult for S and I, we tend to forget that it's not easy for the kids either. We've not changed much in our way of life but they know that they are going to be leaving all they've ever known.

The truth is that I don't want to leave. I've made some wonderful, life-long friends here and hate to leave them behind. It's true that this is a new adventure, I'll get a new house, new church, new friends, be the new girl in town. And part of me wonders why God chose right now to move us away from everything. I didn't want to move to this town 6 years ago and now I don't want to leave.

I pray daily for our situation, especially for my children, that they will handle this with the grace that God provides. He is our ultimate comfort and anchor.

Happy Anniversary

2009-02-03T10:14:00.003-06:00

Ten things I love about S

1. He has more patience than I do.
2. He plays with his children.
3. He loves his children.
4. He loves his mother.
5. When he's passionate about something, he puts his whole heart into it.
6. He puts up with everything I hand him.
7. He makes me laugh on a daily basis.
8. He always puts his family first.
9. He cooks dinner when I don't feel like it (and even sometimes when I do).
10. He encourages me and tells me he loves me every day.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

(There are more but this post could go on forever)

His Timing is Perfect

2009-01-30T14:52:00.003-06:00

There's been something on my mind lately that I haven't shared with all my bloggy friends and with few others. I felt I needed time to digest the situation before I could publicly talk about it. Here goes.

On December 1, S lost his job due to "work-force reduction." I have come to hate that phrase in the last 2 months. We were floored to hear this news and, understandably, devastated and immediately got down on our knees to pray that God would lead us in the right direction.

There have been lots of tears over the last 2 months and we have really had to step out in faith that God will provide for our family. We've had to make some big decisions, including the one to put our house on the market and possibly live with family while S searches for a job.

I had Bunco last night and since I had a ride (thanks Pam!) I only took my money and my cell phone (which is normally in my purse but was in my back pocket). In the middle of the game my phone rang and it was S. I knew it had to be important since he knew I was at Bunco. He told me to drink another beer because he got a job. He didn't know too many details, even where it would be, but it was a job with the same company and with the same salary.

This is, understandably, a huge answer to prayer. God has been so faithful to provide for us in this very difficult time. You see, today was the last day of S's severance package and it would have been infinitely more difficult for him to get a job with his previous employer (lots of red tape) if he didn't get re-hired by them by COB today. Not to mention the loss in salary! We are preparing to move although we don't know where (again with this faith thing) but trusting the Lord to provide a buyer for our house, a new house in a new city, and the right school for our children.

Thanks to all of you who knew about our situation and faithfully prayed for us. We have seen the fruits!

Yet One More Thing for Me to Do

2009-01-29T08:27:00.003-06:00

I found Facebook. Most of my friends have asked me if I'm on there and I officially buckled to the peer pressure yesterday. And it's been fun to see what friends I have in common with other people and what friends I've lost touch with. It is pretty cool and I probably should have done it sooner. I'll just have to be very disciplined in doing it.

Anyone else consumed with my new find?

Thoughts

2009-01-21T14:43:00.003-06:00

I've played way too many games of solitaire today.

It's cold outside and there's a fire in the fireplace. A real one at that, with real wood; not gas logs. You just don't get the same coziness and crackles with gas logs.

L is crying because I won't let her wear the new dress we got last weekend while visiting my hometown. Never mind that it's a short-sleeved dress and it's barely 40 degrees out (hence the fire).

I think H is coming down with something since he fell asleep in my lap today. He's got a low-grade fever and is now taking a second nap.

I had a fabulous breakfast with friends this morning. Yummy food and blessed conversation (with adults!).

Both K and L got to wear Auburn shirts to school today for spirit day. It's homecoming week and today's theme is "wear-your-favorite-team's-jersey" day. I thought it was required to come up with alliterative names for the days leading up to homecoming. Phrases such as Tacky Tuesday (dress in your tackiest of clothes) and Movie Monday (dress as your favorite movie character) were staples when I was in high school. I'm not sure how being tacky or dressing as your favorite movie character is showing school spirit but it's a good excuse to not have to wear your uniform.

The bathrooms need cleaning and I hate cleaning bathrooms. It's not so much that it takes time out of my day when I could be, you know, playing solitaire; it's more that the bathrooms are just icky. Even if you clean them three or four times a week (that has NEVER happened at my house), they're still just plain icky.

The floor in the kitchen needs mopping but every time I think about it I either don't have time to finish it or there is a little one at my feet destroying the hard work I've just put into cleaning the floor.

We made s'mores last night. The girls lasted all of 30 seconds roasting the marshmallows before they declared it too hot for them to be close to the fire (not really that close) and asked S and I to do it for them.

H ate way too many marshmallows last night. (Plain, not roasted)

Doors in our house are now more speed bumps than road blocks for H. His favorite room to break into is our bathroom where he immediately heads for the drawer with S's deodorant.

The house is quiet except for the crackle of the fire.

Content

2009-01-21T11:26:00.002-06:00

I wish y'all could see me right now. My sweet son is asleep on my lap, his head on my shoulder (and, yes, the laptop is there, too). Oh, the sweet moments we get as mothers!

Just For Laughs

2009-01-14T14:00:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago I was extremely exhausted after working in the house all day and went to bed early on a Saturday night. S stayed in the living room to watch 300 which I had no desire to see. I flipped channels until I came across PBS and The Vicar of Dibley. If you've not seen this show, it's truly hilarious, British humor.

This particular episode was a gem and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. I found part of it and am posting it here. Please know that there is one not-so-great word in it so beware of little ears (it's not that bad but I'm kind of sensitive to harsh language). And while the sense of humor is just slightly twisted, it was exactly what I needed that night. Enjoy!

Brought to You by the Letter K

2009-01-09T15:14:00.004-06:00

Every Friday in L's class is Show and Tell day. The object must be something that starts with the letter they are currently working on in class. For example, L brought hand sanitizer for the letter H and a baby buggy for the letter B.

Today's letter was K. We wracked our brains trying to come up with something that starts with K making it much harder than it really was. Then L came up with a brilliant idea. She said, "Well, K's name starts with K so I want to bring her for show and tell!"

She never ceases to amaze me with her witty personality. We ended up with a key chain and knee pads, by the way.

Quotables

2009-01-03T17:11:00.002-06:00

Nana sent me an email with a few quotes from the girls while they were visiting her last week. I thought I'd pass them along because they were just too funny.

K, as we notice that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is on TV: "What's up with this Christmas stuff on TV? Christmas was at least years ago!"

K, responding to L's whispering: Why are we whispering?
L: WHAT?
K: Why are we whispering?
L: HUH?
(We all have the giggles by now)
Nana: She asked why you're whispering.
L, whispering to K now: Sissy, why are we whispering?
K: I don't know!
L: I DON"T KNOW!

If only I could have been a fly on the wall...

Hey! It's 2009!

2009-01-02T19:17:00.003-06:00

I fully intended to blog earlier this week, I even started one post, and then time marched on and it's a new year.

Our New Year's celebration was fun as we spent it with a few friends, enjoying the fellowship at a dear friend's house. We were sans children but everyone else's kids were there and I found that I really did miss my kids. H even spent the night at Gran's and I slept until 9:00am Thursday morning. I haven't slept that late in years. It felt wonderful.

We picked up our girls today and it was such a joyous reunion. The girls took turns sitting on my lap and S's lap while trying to eat our lunch. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I saw them at lunch. S and I both needed the time to get things done around here (much was accomplished) and the girls being gone afforded us that luxury. But, man am I glad they are back. H has spent his entire evening playing with them, very happy to have his little world complete once again. With all the upheaval of working around the house and the amount of time he's spent at Gran's, he's glad to have his way of life back to normal.

I know that God has big plans for us this year, I just feel it. We know that He can do great and mighty things through us and we trust that He will. School starts on Monday and we are going to enjoy every last minute we have with our girls before they go back to the everyday grind that school can be. May you be richly blessed in 2009!

I Always Need My Family

2008-12-28T20:28:00.003-06:00

Since we are trying to fix up our house a bit (without spending too much money), Nana took the girls with her when she went back home. That means H is an only child until Friday! We've gotten a lot done since the girls left yesterday morning, including preparing our room for a fresh coat of paint. Gran has agreed to keep H tomorrow so I can paint and S can get other work done without worrying about what H is getting into.

So here's where the family comes into play. Since L is with K at Nana's house (they're also spending time with Papa and PJ), they aren't in their normal routine. The girls got to have their own rooms last night at Nana's house. At breakfast, L told Nana that she missed her family. She said, "I always need my family." Sometimes that little girl really surprises me with her sayings. Usually they are funny (like last week at church when she was sitting in my lap and tooted just as the pastor said that Jesus' love had a very distinct sweet aroma. It's really hard to stifle laughter in the middle of a sermon) but this one truly touched me. My daughter, who is usually the independent one, absolutely wants and needs to be with her Mama, Daddy, sister and brother.

And that's the way I always want it to be.

Crime and Punishment

2008-12-23T09:14:00.005-06:00

Sunday afternoon was perfect nap weather: cool, rainy, dreary, gray. Since I got up with H at 6:20, I got to take a wonderful, long nap. I think I woke up around 4pm and then S came in our room at 4:30 just to make sure I was awake. I was but barely.

He came in to inform me of a situation involving the girls. It seems as though K got the idea that she would do some "cleaning" in her room. She has done this before with bathroom cleaner (complete with bleach), attempting to "clean" her bear. The bear got thrown in the trash and the child was put in time out while Mama took a time out herself. The bleach incident happened when she was three so we didn't do much else to punish her.

Fast forward to Sunday and she's a whole three years older and wiser. Or so I thought. She used detangling spray as a cleaning solution to clean her and L's beds (just the wood part, not the quilts she assured me) and L used it to wash the walls, with toilet paper as a cleaning rag. This is something that they know better than to do. S was annoyed and made them clean up the mess while he came to me to discuss punishment.

When they finished cleaning, K and L asked what their punishment was going to be. S and I got the bright idea to let the girls pick their own punishment. They came up with no snacks, no sweets and no TV for two days. That started at 5pm Sunday and will end today at 5pm. Believe me, they are counting down the minutes.

The thing I've already noticed, though, is that they are finding ways to entertain themselves without bugging me. They have played well together and have gotten along without much fighting. They haven't once asked to watch TV and keep reminding me that they can have dessert tonight. I really thought this punishment was going to drive me bonkers but they've been quite good. And their imaginations have been running wild.

There have been plenty of tempting situations for them and I know there will be at least one more today. But I must say that I am so proud of them!

And Now the Madness Really Begins

2008-12-22T08:10:00.002-06:00

So. How was your weekend? Ours went by way too fast but we got lots done and I finally got to take a nap. Mod Girl commented that I made her sleepy just reading my last post. Well, I was definitely feeling the sleepy, too!

The class parties went well on Friday and I ate way too much (how can you resist a nugget tray from Chick-fil-A?). At least I didn't eat the cakes, cupcakes and chips that were also available. The girls both got really cute books and we've been reading through K's since she got a Max Lucado children's treasury book that has 4 of his books in it. L got a puzzle book and H has had fun trying to figure out how the pieces fit.

I ran between both parties Friday morning seeing just enough of each one to please both L and K. I came home with feet aching, arms loaded with gifts and goodies from various friends, and two wound-up little girls. I told them to run around outside for a bit to calm down. It sort of helped.

Saturday went by faster than any Saturday has in recent memory. That morning I realized that I had never taken a shower on Friday. Now not getting a shower is something to which I've become accustomed since becoming a mother. But this was the first time I actually forgot to take one. Needless to say, that was priority one on my agenda for Saturday morning.

We were busy cleaning out closets, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and running errands. S's parents made it into town that afternoon and we spent time with them playing dominoes and eating dinner. Again, I was exhausted by the end of the day.

I thought I was all done with shopping and wrapping but remembered that I didn't have anything for stockings and must get that done, including wrapping all of those gifts. That's a tradition in S's family that I still don't understand but I'll wrap all the items, even if it's a little pack of gum.

So that's what's been happening around here. I'm hoping to post more this week and will upload some pictures of the kids. I wish I knew how to get pictures off my phone and onto the computer so you could see H's face last night when he ate an Oreo. Just use your imagination.

Catching Up

2008-12-18T13:25:00.002-06:00

I have approximately 3 minutes to give you a quick update on all our business here over the last week or so. Sorry for not posting but I honestly don't have time!

We're trying to fix up the house and I've been busy cleaning out closets, painting my bathroom, painting in the girls' room from the "raining in my room" episode, and getting rid of unwanted furniture. It hasn't been easy and it's moving along slowly but it's getting done.

We have two class Christmas parties tomorrow and I forgot that both girls have to bring a book for the gift exchange. I guess I'll do that on the way to get K from school. I also have to bring two different food items to their respective parties and help with both of them. At least I'm not in charge.

The house is decorated but not all presents are wrapped. I'm lucky that my head is attached at this point! I promise to write more in the coming days as we'll be done with school and I'll be looking for stuff to get me away from children who keep telling me they are bored.

It's Been Awhile...

2008-12-09T13:03:00.002-06:00

Sorry for not posting more but it's just been busy and I don't have time! Oh, how I wish I did. For now, here's a picture of our family taken at K's Thanksgiving Feast. Hope y'all are well!

I Told You it was Getting Busy

2008-11-24T13:55:00.002-06:00

It's been almost a week since I posted and I'm not sure where time went.

L had her Thanksgiving program and subsequent "feast" on Wednesday and was so very cute. She was dressed as a pilgrim girl and was just adorable. Will post pictures eventually. I use the term "feast" very loosely as the lunch consisted of chicken nuggets, corn, lady peas, and rolls. L ate about 10 nuggets and I lost count as to how many nuggets H ate. He kept grabbing them off the tray and stuffing them in his mouth. I know he started out with four. My guess is that he finished with about as many as L.

My birthday was Saturday and it was wonderful. I got to do whatever I wanted and ate whatever I wanted, including a nice dinner out with S and my mom. It was lovely and we had a very good time. I think the last time Nana got to go out with us without children was before K was born. Auburn didn't play Saturday so that meant I couldn't get upset about yet another loss. I'm just ready for the season to be over and to move on. We've learned a lot from this season but it's time for it to be over.

K's Thanksgiving feast was today and I forgot my camera. The whole class stood in front of the parents and, individually, gave their name and what they were thankful for. This is not K's forte but she did what she was supposed to do and did quite well. She was very clear and concise and not one bit scared. This Mama was very proud and I told her just that. This feast truly was a feast. We had turkey, ham, the aforementioned chicken nuggets, corn casserole, beans, rolls, cornbread, mac & cheese, and potatoes. I was in charge of dressing and made more than enough so now I don't have to make that for our Thanksgiving. It's already taken care of! K is also about to lose her second tooth and can't wait for it to come out. I guess losing teeth never really gets old. The tooth fairy was very generous with the first tooth ($2!) but much stingier with each additional tooth (more like 25 cents).

We have one more day of school this week and then we're off. I'm thankful for that. So that's what's going on here. I hope your week is full of fun, good food, and family.

It's Getting Busy

2008-11-18T10:10:00.002-06:00

It's that time of year, time when all sorts of things are happening: parties, programs, birthdays, holidays. I love it and hate it all at once. I believe most of you know what I mean.

L has a Thanksgiving program tomorrow followed by lunch in her classroom, to include parents and siblings. I'm pretty sure H will be more interested in all the toys rather than the food. I realize that's not the norm but call it mother's intuition.

Nana is coming for the weekend (unbeknownst to the children) to celebrate a birthday. This means I have to clean up the guest room as I've let the kids play up there a little too much in recent weeks. At least there aren't too many toys and the sheets for the bed are clean.

K's class has a Thanksgiving lunch on Monday, to include parents and siblings, for which I have to make dressing. I volunteered to do this because I didn't want someone bringing Stove Top and calling it "homemade." That is just wrong on so many levels.

Papa and PJ are coming for Thanksgiving and we're all looking forward to that as the kids haven't seen them since April. Papa's been very busy with work and a long drive just hasn't been in the cards for them. Should be lots of fun with lots of good food.

We saw a really cute movie a few weeks ago called Chaos Theory. Very good, minimal language, and clean. Totally worth the money spent to rent.

So that's about it. I have a video of H walking that I still need to download from the camera and will post when that's done. Hope all of you are having a good week!

Big News

2008-11-11T09:13:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not pregnant (would take a miracle).

Now that that's out of the way, I thought I'd share this because I need to. Last night, we went to a friend's house to celebrate Veteran's Day. All of the men/Daddies are military of some sort, either veterans of a war, prior active duty or reserves. We had a fantastic time, ate way too much, and stayed way too late. We even got to roast marshmallows and have s'mores. Yummy!

But the big news of the night is that H walked. Yes he walked! And not just two steps but at least 10 to go from S to me. And back again. He went back and forth, back and forth, so very proud of himself, smiling the whole time. Then he got tired and was ready to go home.

Y'all this is such an answer to prayer, such a reminder that God does miracles as H's life is, in and of itself, a miracle. I wanted to cry tears of joy last night but they didn't fall until this morning. At our last appointment, H's doctor suggested we have him evaluated at our convenience but I don't think that's necessary now. We know he can do it, he knows he can do it and that's what matters.

He's yet to do much at home but I believe that's due to him being exhausted from having stayed up too late and getting up too early. I think with a good nap he'll be running laps around us!

Thanks to all of you, my dear friends, for your prayers on behalf of H and myself. This Mama's heart was burdened for him, praying that he would walk, that there wouldn't be anything truly wrong with him. He is, apparently, doing just fine!

Blog Extravaganza, Part Three

2008-11-11T08:48:00.004-06:00

I completely forgot to post these pictures yesterday. So many pictures, so little time

We were at a birthday party for one of L's friends on Saturday, complete with petting zoo and pony rides. L is not a fan of animals and runs from any type of dog imaginable. She's not quite as bad with the little ones but it's just not pretty. It's a good thing we don't have one. She's not fond of cats, either, so it may be awhile before we get any pet other than a fish.

So I didn't have high expectations for Saturday and figured she'd just play in the back yard while the other kids played with the animals. She did play in the back yard only after she played with the animals, including a silky chicken (looks like a chicken covered in rabbit fur), rabbits, ducks, goats, and a miniature horse named Shorty. And when it came time for the pony ride? She jumped right in line and wasn't afraid. Of course, I had the camera on hand to get evidence of this phenomenon.

Blog Extravaganza, Part Two

2008-11-10T13:33:00.003-06:00

Here's the rest of the new pictures. I probably should call this The Post About L but it doesn't go with the "Blog Extravaganza" theme.

Yesterday at church we celebrated communion. K and L are too young to take part but still ask why they can't have the bread and juice (won't get into that here). Anyway, L was sitting on my lap and after I ate my bread, we had a conversation that went something like this:

L: What was in that bread?

Me: What do you mean?

L: Were there nuts in it?

Me: Um, no.

L: Did it have peanut butter in it? (she asked this with a chuckle)

I realized that she was asking these questions because she knows she's not allowed to have nuts or peanuts (allergies) and was trying to figure out why she couldn't have the bread. Ah, young inquiring minds.

We had a Veteran's day program today at school at it was wonderful. The entire preschool sang two songs, including God Bless America. It was so sweet to hear their precious voices. My favorite part was the flag the preschoolers made. Each class helped by using their hands as stars and their feet as the stripes in the flag. Very, very cute.

Here's a picture of the preschoolers singing. Do you see L? She's behind the little girl in the black and white striped top. I was at the wrong angle so I didn't get any good shots of her. I did get to see her little hands go up when they were doing the motions during the songs but that's about it.

See the stars and stripes? Too cute!

Blog Extravaganza, Part One

2008-11-10T13:23:00.003-06:00

I'm back! Get ready for some pictures of the kiddos. I've got Halloween and Veteran's Day pictures to share with you so let's start with Halloween.

K was an Auburn cheerleader even though we aren't having the best of seasons. I'm still a proud supporter of my Tigers but it's just not the season we hoped it would be. There's always next year!

L wanted to be a princess so I let her pick from the many princess outfits we already own and she chose wisely. They had face painting at school that day and I thought it looked really cute.

Poor H. This a picture of him on Halloween but not in costume. He was Eeyore for all of about 45 minutes and I didn't have the camera in my hand. I was too busy manning L's class booth and chasing around an 18-month-old who really wanted to go up the stairs to the Treat Walk. It was interesting to say the least.

There's more but I'll put that in a separate post...

I Know, I Know

2008-11-05T09:58:00.004-06:00

I know I haven't posted the much-anticipated (HA!) pictures of the kids in their costumes but I still haven't gotten them off the camera. It's a combo of busyness and laziness; take your pick.

This week has been busy and it's only Wednesday. I feel like time is flying by and slowly moving along all at the same time. Ever feel that way?

We went to the pediatrician on Monday for H's 18-month checkup. He's doing just fine except for the walking thing. The doctor said that we should have him evaluated at our convenience since he believes that H is just lazy and needs a little confidence. He can do all the walking he wants as long as he's holding on to something. Maybe I'm just too quick to pick him up and don't want to push him. However, I'm ready for him to walk. Ah, the irony.

K had to go with us as she was due for a booster shot and let me tell you, that was an experience. You see, when I was little, I hated shots (actually I still do but it's manageable) and even cowered in the corner once to avoid the shot. The corner is not the place to hide as I was trapped and got the shot anyway.

To make a long story short, it took 3 of us (me, S, and the nurse) to hold her down long enough to get the one shot, never mind that I was also holding H at the time. Thank goodness S was with me because I wouldn't have been able to do it myself. K is awfully strong!

So that's been our week. I'll post pictures when I can. In the meantime, here's a picture of my friend's twin girls. They are a year older than H and just adorable. Handfuls but adorable.

Halloween Pictures Coming!

2008-11-01T11:27:00.002-05:00

I promise to post Halloween pictures ASAP as they really are cute. I still have to get a picture of H in his costume as he wouldn't stay in it very long. They all had a great time and L even went trick-or-treating which she said she didn't want to do until the very last minute. It was lots of fun!

Now I'm off to watch Auburn football...

Laugh Out Loud Funny

2008-10-30T13:30:00.003-05:00

I found this link to an SNL skit on BooMama's blog and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. Then I made S watch it and he laughed really hard, too. Your sense of humor needs to be slightly twisted but I promise you'll laugh!

Souptacular 2008

2008-10-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

Since I did this last year, I thought I'd do it again!

Turkey Chili

1T olive oil
1lb. ground turkey
1T garlic, minced
2½ t ground cumin
½ t salt
½ t pepper
1 (14oz) can chicken broth
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can corn
½ C uncooked rice
½ C green salsa
1C onion, chopped
½ T cilantro

Heat olive oil in large skillet or pot. Add turkey, garlic, and onion and cook until meat is no longer pink. Add cumin, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Add chicken broth, black beans, corn, rice, and salsa. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add cilantro. (If you don't like the flavor of cilantro, substitute flat leaf parsley.)

Serve over chopped lettuce and top with sour cream, salsa, tortilla chips and grated cheese.

Like Father, Like Son

2008-10-27T16:17:00.004-05:00

Many years ago, a tall skinny boy was heading out to a concert. He was going to see one of his favorite groups, Kid 'N Play, knowing every one of their songs even though his parents didn't really like them. At least they were mostly clean. (S and I share many things; our taste in music isn't one of them.)

In order to feel like a part of the crowd, S decided that he must do his best to make his hair look like this:

He tried all sorts of things: hair gel, hair spray, even mousse. But nothing was working. The texture of his hair just wasn't made for this particular style, never mind that it was only two inches long. So he tried one more product - Vaseline. This didn't really work very well, either, and just made his hair greasy; very greasy. In fact, it made it greasy for several days, through countless washings with various shampoos.

Fast forward twenty something years later and this is what I came home to after picking the girls up at school:

No, that's not water on his face or bananas in his hair. That is Vaseline. Apparently there was some in his room that I had yet to take out and he, being the curious boy he is, found it, took the top off, and rubbed it all over his body, including his outfit, hence the hair standing up on his head. He's had one bath already but he's still greasy and now my hands feel greasy as well. At least his skin is baby soft and will be for the next few weeks.

If this is Monday, what's that mean for the rest of my week?

First Tooth Picture

2008-10-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

Yet Another Sign She's Growing Up

2008-10-27T09:57:00.002-05:00

As if loosing her first tooth this week wasn't enough, K had her very first sleepover party Saturday night. Now I remember these fondly as I look back on my childhood. Playing with other people's toys and getting to sleep in a sleeping bag was just so much fun. We stayed up late, ate junk food, and came home in a foul temper, pumped up on sugar and with no rest. Oh, but it was fun.

When K got the invitation, I was very hesitant to let her go. But she begged and pleaded and said she really wanted to, day after day after day. I took this as a sign that she wasn't afraid to do it. So many questions came to my mind as I pondered what to do: what if she had an accident at night? What if she ate something she wasn't supposed to? What if she got scared and wanted to come home? I talked to S about it. I talked to the birthday girl's Mama about it. I talked to several other Mamas about it. And then I talked to God about it. After much consideration, I let her go.

Oh, friends, it was hard. I drove her to the party, took a tour of the house, got all the info I could possibly need and knew that she would be in good hands (not my hands but good enough ones). I had to leave a list with all the things K is allergic to and what to do should she have a reaction to anything, including medications and their proper dosages. I hugged her good-bye five or twenty times before we left. I'm glad S was there or I would have been a puddle. I had a knot in my stomach until about 10:00 PM, when I was pretty sure there wasn't going to be a phone call that she was scared and wanted to come home.

When I picked her up yesterday, I was so happy to wrap my arms around her. Oh, how I'd missed her! She had a fantastic time. Birthday Girl's Mama said K was a huge helper and was very well-behaved as were all the girls (nine 6- and 7-year-olds).

K's first question for me? "When can I have a sleepover at our house?"

I don't think this Mama is ready for that just yet.

Growing Up

2008-10-23T09:25:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday afternoon, as the sun was beginning to wane, I forced the kids outside to get some fresh air. They had been inside most of the day and were going stir crazy (and about to drive me crazy) so they went outside to play, even H. He loves being out there but with a crawler, it's hard to want him to be out there. He either gets his legs dirty or his pants come back caked with dirt. Ah, the joy of having a boy. He also likes to climb the stairs of the play house which scares me to death. But the antics of H outside is another post entirely.

K has been nursing a loose tooth for some time now. I think it was back in the spring when we first noticed it was slightly loose. Finally it was loose enough to come out but hung in there for over a week. She pulled it out on the back porch and you would have thought she had won the lottery. She was so proud! She is the last person in her class to lose a tooth so this was really exciting.

I'll post a couple of pictures if I remember to download them. I just had to tell you that my baby is growing up!