Congrats to Rachel and Josh, a new baby on the way and Samara will be a big sister! I honestly have wondered how I would feel when someone else that I'm close to gets pregnant again. Would I be sad knowing I will never experience that again? Well that answer is no :o)
I actually feel comfortable with what I have at this point in life. Elyssa is almost potty trained and it's a relief to know that diaper days are over. I've been buying diapers almost constantly for the past 10 years. I feel some sense of "freedom" now that she is a little more independent. I mean, I've been doing the baby thing for 19 years! I'm not trying to rush the next 3 years before Elyssa starts kindergarden, but I am also looking forward to possibly going to school or working part time once she is in school. I feel very blessed that I have been able to stay home with my kids while they're small. I wouldn't change that for anything, but I'm looking forward to the future also and seeing what life is like without a baby or toddler, cuz it's been a LONG time for me :o)
On the potty training front, Elyssa has only had one accident in the past 3 days. Yay!! She is doing great and it came so suddenly. She was totally against it and then changed overnight. I'm so proud of my lil sweet girl!!
9/04/2010
8/21/2010
Changes...
It's August 20th and school starts in 11 days. Summer is coming to an end, which really makes me sad. No more unscheduled lazy days, sleeping in, spending a day at the beach. It's back to the hectic mornings and after school activities.....I hate to see my kids go back every year, even though I admit I will NOT miss the bickering that steals my sanity some days. Ha, I love 'em!!
Brandon starts college in 3 days. College already!! That is pure craziness!! I hope he really enjoys it.
Our "other son" is leaving on the same day, for the marines boot camp. Brandon met Evan when they were in middle school and he has been around quite a bit. I am nervous for him and I hate to see him go but I wish him the absolute best. He's a great kid!
So, in the next 11 days, our house will change....It'll be quieter, less messy, less hectic, less exciting....and more empty :o(
On the up side, I do look forward to spending some extra time during the day with my little man Isaac, and my baby girl Elyssa. I'll work with Isaac more on his letters and numbers so he'll be ready for Kindergarden next year. Things won't be all bad, and there's always the weekends for the big fun :o)
Brandon starts college in 3 days. College already!! That is pure craziness!! I hope he really enjoys it.
Our "other son" is leaving on the same day, for the marines boot camp. Brandon met Evan when they were in middle school and he has been around quite a bit. I am nervous for him and I hate to see him go but I wish him the absolute best. He's a great kid!
So, in the next 11 days, our house will change....It'll be quieter, less messy, less hectic, less exciting....and more empty :o(
On the up side, I do look forward to spending some extra time during the day with my little man Isaac, and my baby girl Elyssa. I'll work with Isaac more on his letters and numbers so he'll be ready for Kindergarden next year. Things won't be all bad, and there's always the weekends for the big fun :o)
7/06/2010
12th Anniversary
Happy Anniversary to us!! Twelve years ago today we were getting married....It's funny to think that we got married in Las Vegas. That is so NOT my style normally. I think I was going through my short "wild oats" stage at that time :o) But it was fun and adventurous and I definitely do not regret doing it that way.
It was the 1st (and only) time I've ever been on a plane and the first "real" vacation I've ever been on. I loved it!!
So, here we are 12 years later.....Mike had to work all day so it wasn't too exciting, but we went to eat last night alone and he brought me a bouquet of daisies after work. We're aiming for year 15 to go back to Vegas for a few nights :o)
It was the 1st (and only) time I've ever been on a plane and the first "real" vacation I've ever been on. I loved it!!
So, here we are 12 years later.....Mike had to work all day so it wasn't too exciting, but we went to eat last night alone and he brought me a bouquet of daisies after work. We're aiming for year 15 to go back to Vegas for a few nights :o)
Hot, hot, hot!!!
Summer is in full swing and it's HOT!! Ninety four degrees today and no air conditioning. Thank God for the walmart pool.
Yesterday was the 4th of July. We spent the morning swimming, then went to Gramma's house for a few hours. Big family cookouts are one of my favorite things. The kids played on a blow-up water slide and even the babies went down it a couple of times.
The day before that we spent some time at the Burnett cookout. Between the blow up slide and Gary's pool slide, I think my scrawny Isaac probably wore his little legs out. He is ALL fun, ALL the time :o)
We took the kids to see fireworks last night and then came home to have a bonfire and roast hot dogs. Lots of fun....but I am ready for a few days of rest!
Yesterday was the 4th of July. We spent the morning swimming, then went to Gramma's house for a few hours. Big family cookouts are one of my favorite things. The kids played on a blow-up water slide and even the babies went down it a couple of times.
The day before that we spent some time at the Burnett cookout. Between the blow up slide and Gary's pool slide, I think my scrawny Isaac probably wore his little legs out. He is ALL fun, ALL the time :o)
We took the kids to see fireworks last night and then came home to have a bonfire and roast hot dogs. Lots of fun....but I am ready for a few days of rest!
6/27/2010
Perfection....
My last post got me thinking about something else....Leading a simple country life. Maybe I should have been born in Mayberry. I would've been happy there!
There are times that I feel like what I have isn't good enough in some people's opinions. We live in an older house, the lawn is not beautifully landscaped, the inside is not expensively decorated, we drive older vehicles...We even have a lopsided pool :o) Most would say we don't have much....and ya know what? I'm finally ok with that. In Fact, I prefer some of the little non-perfect things that we have.
I suppose everyone's idea of perfection is different but I have always LOVED old country houses. The ones that look like people are truely LIVING in them. They have charm and a story behind them. These pictures are beautiful to me:
Look at the one below. Most people would see a weathered house, not worthy of living in. I see two rocking chairs on the porch, where a "Granny" and "Papaw" sit and relax in the evening. They've probably lived there for many many years....And at one point I'll bet their home was filled with many small children - making messes, climbing trees, spilling things, laughing, fighting, playing, working....There's so much to see in this picture!
And even this one, which is the one that WE temporarily call HOME:
That is where my family plays and laughs and argues and catches lightening bugs. Thats the tree my kids climb, and behind that is the red wooden swing that we swing on in the evenings! That is where we make memories that will someday be very special to our children.
At some point in the future, maybe I'll have a different home - But for now we are happy. We aren't worried that a few of the pine tree branches were cut to make playhouses. We don't notice because we are too busy having fun together in the crooked pool - and quite honestly, I don't even mind the occasional mud puddles in our driveway because without them, my children wouldn't experience the joy of doing THIS:
And I could never live in the city again, because I would miss having THIS to look at from my back yard hammock:
I see my childhood home often. It's right down the road from us and I have already promised myself that I will find a way to buy it if I ever see a for sale sign. My Grandparents say it looks awful...and it does. But I want it. My Grandpa built it himself - How awesome would it be to raise your children in a house that their Great Grandpa built? One that their Mommy and Grandparents AND even Great Grandparents lived in!! That means so much more than the fixable imperfections that we see with our eyes.
I love the song below. So many times I've wondered how the owners would feel if I asked to walk around the yard, or even inside the house. Maybe they'd call the police and tell them a weirdo was on their doorstep :o) Like the song says, as we grow older we deal with hard things, we get hurt emotionally and we become different people because of those things. When I drive by the old house, I remember a carefree child whose biggest worry was whether to eat, swim or chase ducks off the back patio. So, when I heard this song, it immediately became a favorite. That house on route 83 is "The House that Built Me".
Summertime Fun!!
It's officially Summer and I'm loving it. I have never been a very scheduled person, so this is the best 3 months of the year for me. No alarm setting or getting up early, no having to rush home from somewhere because the kids will be getting off the bus, no Girl Scouts or other school events. It's just a beautiful thing :o)
With Mike working the hours that he does, I'm usually on my own with the kids or we meet up with other family/friends. So far we have been to the drive-in, the beach, the sprinkler park, various playgrounds....and spent many days lazing in our own swimming pool. In August Mike will take his week long vacation so we're trying to think of something fun to go and do with the kids. I'm sure we'll hit the zoo at some point also.
For me, it's the little things that I remember most from when I was a child.....Catching lightening bugs in a jar, swimming, playing with our cats or dogs, catching baby frogs, playing hide n seek, flying kites, making simple clubhouses. We used to play for hours on our swingset!! I have a strong desire to teach my children the same things. Fun doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. Just appreciate what is around you in your own back yard.
About 3 weeks ago my kids were trying to make forts under the pine trees in our side yard. Of course I had to jump in and help :o) Before I knew it, Mike was out there with his chainsaw, removing a few pine branches to open up "doorways" to their houses. We then took the scrap branches and built a wall between the boy and girl areas. They took their camping chairs in there and a few toys. They even went into the farmers field and found rocks to make little pretend fire rings on each side.
One of my proud Mommy moments. I love to see them working and playing together!! I am looking forward to more Summer fun in the next 2 months!
With Mike working the hours that he does, I'm usually on my own with the kids or we meet up with other family/friends. So far we have been to the drive-in, the beach, the sprinkler park, various playgrounds....and spent many days lazing in our own swimming pool. In August Mike will take his week long vacation so we're trying to think of something fun to go and do with the kids. I'm sure we'll hit the zoo at some point also.
For me, it's the little things that I remember most from when I was a child.....Catching lightening bugs in a jar, swimming, playing with our cats or dogs, catching baby frogs, playing hide n seek, flying kites, making simple clubhouses. We used to play for hours on our swingset!! I have a strong desire to teach my children the same things. Fun doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. Just appreciate what is around you in your own back yard.
About 3 weeks ago my kids were trying to make forts under the pine trees in our side yard. Of course I had to jump in and help :o) Before I knew it, Mike was out there with his chainsaw, removing a few pine branches to open up "doorways" to their houses. We then took the scrap branches and built a wall between the boy and girl areas. They took their camping chairs in there and a few toys. They even went into the farmers field and found rocks to make little pretend fire rings on each side.
One of my proud Mommy moments. I love to see them working and playing together!! I am looking forward to more Summer fun in the next 2 months!
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