Happy 10th

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.

The Case of the Delinquent Blogger

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!

Happy Mother's Day

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!

It's Been Too Long

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

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!

Captured Through the Lens

It Was Bound to Happen

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

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)

I Know, I Know

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.

A New Use for the Tub

Remember when I posted about this tub? Well, S found a new use for it during H's first birthday party Friday night. I'm thinking I may not let him be in charge of drinks any more.

My Personal Favorite

Happy Birthday Honey!

I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband a very happy birthday. We have lots of fun things planned today, including lunch out with his parents and dinner at home, one that he requests nearly every year: Coney Islands (Cincinnati chili with hot dogs) and sour cream pound cake with thin egg custard. (Hey, it's only your birthday once a year so you might as well splurge.)

S is such a great father to our children. I love seeing him interact with them, play with them, comfort them and love them. He provides something for all of them that I clearly can not. He does his best to make good out of bad, to help around the house whenever he can and makes me laugh on a daily basis. I smile when I'm around him and I'm sad when he's not here.

So here's wishing you a wonderful birthday, Hubby!

(Pray for him as he's got a cold. And if you haven't watched this video, you simply must do so right now.)