Living Our Dream....
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
One Down, One to Go...
This weekend we crossed a bridge... I realized that Avery can read her clock in her room and explained that she needs to wait to get out of bed until the first number is 6. That means no more coming into our bed @ 2, 3, 4 etc. She needs to stay in her bed like a big girl. She actually listened! It took a couple of tries, but she is doing it! Yeah!!! Now, on to Jake. He has never come into our bed.. until of course, Avery stopped! On Sunday night Mike heard a rustling on our duvet, which had slipped onto the floor and found him sleeping soundly on our floor at the foot of our bed. Complete with his pillow and 2 stuffed animals, Sal and Harpo. It was so sweet! Mike woke me up and told me it could be the cutest thing he has experienced thus far as a parent. He (Jake), never made a peep. We were not fully asleep when we found him, so he must have come in VERY quietly! Too cute!
We had a great family weekend last weekend. We spent time at the 500 Parade, planted flowers, went to church, went to a cookout, spent time with friends and family. GREAT! We did miss that there was no cookout @ Aunt Agnes' this year, so we didn't all get together but nonetheless, it was relaxing and we spent lots of time together, and that is what holidays are about.
Off to do the laundry!! Have a great week, it is supposed to actually feel like summer in the next couple of days!! Yeah!!!!!
We had a great family weekend last weekend. We spent time at the 500 Parade, planted flowers, went to church, went to a cookout, spent time with friends and family. GREAT! We did miss that there was no cookout @ Aunt Agnes' this year, so we didn't all get together but nonetheless, it was relaxing and we spent lots of time together, and that is what holidays are about.
Off to do the laundry!! Have a great week, it is supposed to actually feel like summer in the next couple of days!! Yeah!!!!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Summer Break Begins!
Well, tomorrow is the last day of preschool for my kiddos and I am sad! We love their classes, friends and teachers and I know that we will miss everyone very much. Jake has really taken to his classmates and we didn't know how long that would take. It was a rough couple of months in the beginning. Avery has learned ALOT from her friends, not all good, but nonetheless, she does like them and will be asking about them daily! Notice I did not mention the fact that my time alone is gone for the next three months-- that has nothing to do with my sadness ;).
We are going to try to stay busy and have lots of fun this summer. Here are some of my goals:
Start a "chore/responsibility chart" for the kids. We need to reinforce our expectations. With Jake just learning them, the door is open for Avery to test them.
Practice writing with Avery. She has really come a long way in the past few months and she loves to "show off" her new talent.
Potty train Jake. He is not at all interested, so we will see how that goes. I won't push him too much.
Go to the zoo @ least 2x a month. We have to make use of our zoo pass right? Plus, its nice to visit our extended family! Hahaha! (you can decide for yourself which side they are on)
Stick to my yard work. Mike gives me a hard time about being strong out of the gate, but not much for stamina, so I want to work on that.
Feel free to check in on my progress, I sometimes need a thump on the head to remember all of the things I wanted to do.
PS. Larry came out of surgery well and should come home tomorrow.
PSS. We had our last MOPS meeting last night, and to any of you who may see this, I will miss you this summer and had a great time over the past few months. It was great to meet you all! It is really encouraging to know that there are so many other moms out there just doing the best they can to raise good, god fearing,well balanced children in this crazy unbalanced world we are in! See you in the fall!
We are going to try to stay busy and have lots of fun this summer. Here are some of my goals:
Start a "chore/responsibility chart" for the kids. We need to reinforce our expectations. With Jake just learning them, the door is open for Avery to test them.
Practice writing with Avery. She has really come a long way in the past few months and she loves to "show off" her new talent.
Potty train Jake. He is not at all interested, so we will see how that goes. I won't push him too much.
Go to the zoo @ least 2x a month. We have to make use of our zoo pass right? Plus, its nice to visit our extended family! Hahaha! (you can decide for yourself which side they are on)
Stick to my yard work. Mike gives me a hard time about being strong out of the gate, but not much for stamina, so I want to work on that.
Feel free to check in on my progress, I sometimes need a thump on the head to remember all of the things I wanted to do.
PS. Larry came out of surgery well and should come home tomorrow.
PSS. We had our last MOPS meeting last night, and to any of you who may see this, I will miss you this summer and had a great time over the past few months. It was great to meet you all! It is really encouraging to know that there are so many other moms out there just doing the best they can to raise good, god fearing,well balanced children in this crazy unbalanced world we are in! See you in the fall!
Pray for Larry
Please pray for Larry as he has surgery today. From what I hear it is pretty routine, but extra prayers never hurt!!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Pics from the week
At the zoo with Aunt Agnes, Grant and Tyler, Matt and Grandma Helen
Avery giving her baby a bath during our yard sale at Aunt Agnes' house
Jake was so enamoured with the peguins.
My to waddle, waddle, waddle buddies!Oh how I love them!
The Days of our Lives
We have been going nonstop for the past few weeks, and it feels GREAT! Sometimes I feel like we do the same things everyday and it has been refreshing to have places to go and people to see.
The kids are growing up so fast and keeping me on my toes. Jake has started talking up a storm since we took his paci-wire, and I swear he has grown up 6 mos. worth in the past few weeks. It is great to hear his sweet voice all day. I have never heard "Why mommy?" sound so sweet and pure. It is truly a testament to God's wonderful plan. Kids are so innocent in this crazy world of ours. "Why hold your hand mommy?", "Why no spoon in my water?", "Why no running away from mommy?" Too sweet!
Avery, on the other hand, whew!! She has taken me on a ride the past few weeks! I have a almost 4 year old who is turning 15 soon. She is sweet and bossy, a caretaker and a toy taker, happy and angry, humble and snooty, thankful and greedy, all within a blink of an eye. We are banging heads at every single corner, and to be honest, I am at a loss. I am the only one she challenges in this way. I am sure it is because we are so much alike, but nonetheless, I have to figure it out and SOON! I can't figure out how to "Break the will, without breaking the spirit". Of course I know that this is installment #1 or 2 of hundreds we will have over the next years, I just want to start out on my feet.
Other than the above mentioned, things are great. Daddy gets home soon from the Philippines, and it will be good having him back on American soil. Wanda and Larry are home from Wilmington, and I am thankful to have them back in our state. Mike is home and doing well, putting up with me with a smile on his face. Thanks honey!
I will write more soon!
The kids are growing up so fast and keeping me on my toes. Jake has started talking up a storm since we took his paci-wire, and I swear he has grown up 6 mos. worth in the past few weeks. It is great to hear his sweet voice all day. I have never heard "Why mommy?" sound so sweet and pure. It is truly a testament to God's wonderful plan. Kids are so innocent in this crazy world of ours. "Why hold your hand mommy?", "Why no spoon in my water?", "Why no running away from mommy?" Too sweet!
Avery, on the other hand, whew!! She has taken me on a ride the past few weeks! I have a almost 4 year old who is turning 15 soon. She is sweet and bossy, a caretaker and a toy taker, happy and angry, humble and snooty, thankful and greedy, all within a blink of an eye. We are banging heads at every single corner, and to be honest, I am at a loss. I am the only one she challenges in this way. I am sure it is because we are so much alike, but nonetheless, I have to figure it out and SOON! I can't figure out how to "Break the will, without breaking the spirit". Of course I know that this is installment #1 or 2 of hundreds we will have over the next years, I just want to start out on my feet.
Other than the above mentioned, things are great. Daddy gets home soon from the Philippines, and it will be good having him back on American soil. Wanda and Larry are home from Wilmington, and I am thankful to have them back in our state. Mike is home and doing well, putting up with me with a smile on his face. Thanks honey!
I will write more soon!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Since my last post, like I have been going nonstop! Let me catch you up!
Mike got home safely and we are all together again, Thank Goodness!
Julie and Matthew (my sister and brother-in-law) came home for the weekend and we had a wonderful visit! Matthew arrived earlier than we expected, so he spent the evening with us until Mom and Julie got here. Saturday morning we went to Aunt Agnes' for a huge breakfast and family time. Then, down to Bedford for more play and church on Sunday morning. Matthew and Julie have only been married for a year and live in N.C. so our time with them is precious. Although Julie was tied up with a baby shower on Sat. afternoon, it was really great to spend a lot of time with Matthew. The kids really loved his attention! Aunt Julie made a big impact and taught Avery a few new Sunday school songs. She loves "peace like a river". It was great to see them both!!! I really miss my sister especially as we get older.
My dad left for the Philippines on Wed. the 23rd and will be gone 17 days. He is having a great time and is very tired! He is preaching 3-5 per day for the next several days! Pray for him to keep rested and for the Lord to keep him safe on his trip! He is in a very dangerous area and they do not like preachers of any kind teaching the Bible, much less an American preacher who doesn't tend to sensor himself for his audience :). Check out his blog @ goensmyway.blogspot.com.
This weekend we had a garage sale at Aunt Agnes' house and had a great time! Aunt Agnes' worked herself silly and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! She is the best! Mom came up to help us out and between the three of us, it was a very successful weekend! I have so much fun with these two women and feel so so blessed to have them in my life. They are everything I hope to be. They are a constant example to me of how I want to live my life, as mothers, wives, friends and ladies. Thank you both for all you do!
I will write again soon, have a great weekend!!!
Mike got home safely and we are all together again, Thank Goodness!
Julie and Matthew (my sister and brother-in-law) came home for the weekend and we had a wonderful visit! Matthew arrived earlier than we expected, so he spent the evening with us until Mom and Julie got here. Saturday morning we went to Aunt Agnes' for a huge breakfast and family time. Then, down to Bedford for more play and church on Sunday morning. Matthew and Julie have only been married for a year and live in N.C. so our time with them is precious. Although Julie was tied up with a baby shower on Sat. afternoon, it was really great to spend a lot of time with Matthew. The kids really loved his attention! Aunt Julie made a big impact and taught Avery a few new Sunday school songs. She loves "peace like a river". It was great to see them both!!! I really miss my sister especially as we get older.
My dad left for the Philippines on Wed. the 23rd and will be gone 17 days. He is having a great time and is very tired! He is preaching 3-5 per day for the next several days! Pray for him to keep rested and for the Lord to keep him safe on his trip! He is in a very dangerous area and they do not like preachers of any kind teaching the Bible, much less an American preacher who doesn't tend to sensor himself for his audience :). Check out his blog @ goensmyway.blogspot.com.
This weekend we had a garage sale at Aunt Agnes' house and had a great time! Aunt Agnes' worked herself silly and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! She is the best! Mom came up to help us out and between the three of us, it was a very successful weekend! I have so much fun with these two women and feel so so blessed to have them in my life. They are everything I hope to be. They are a constant example to me of how I want to live my life, as mothers, wives, friends and ladies. Thank you both for all you do!
I will write again soon, have a great weekend!!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A long week
We have all had a long week this week. Mike has been out of town all week in sunny California for work and while I am sure that the warmth and sunshine feel good, I know that he really misses us! Thank Goodness! haha!
We have really tried to have a good week, but the kids miss their daddy, Jake has no paci, mommy has a cold and no one is sleeping really well.. Ugh!!!!
I don't know why everytime Mike leaves town, I get something...sinus infection, the flu, something. For those of you who have a husband who travels some you know that when daddy's away we, as mommy's, have to step up the fun factor. We have to do something to take their minds off of the fact that at 5:30, it is still only mommy. I have not been able to do that this week. Sorry kids!
I did make a promise to Avery that if she was a great listener and went to sleep like a big girl all week that she could have a surprise today. She has been REALLY good (she loves to take care of me when I am sick, that must come from Aunt Julz or maybe Mamaw) so she got a scooter today and she loves it!
Jake has done pretty well without his paci, except at bedtime, so for that I am thankful. I will be very happy when he starts sleeping through the night again though! Whew, I am tired! On a better note, he got his "big ole band aid" off this week and is starting to use his hand more everyday! So far, we are think we are not going to have any physical therapy or surgery! Thank You God!
That is about all for us this week, I hope yours has been great!
We have really tried to have a good week, but the kids miss their daddy, Jake has no paci, mommy has a cold and no one is sleeping really well.. Ugh!!!!
I don't know why everytime Mike leaves town, I get something...sinus infection, the flu, something. For those of you who have a husband who travels some you know that when daddy's away we, as mommy's, have to step up the fun factor. We have to do something to take their minds off of the fact that at 5:30, it is still only mommy. I have not been able to do that this week. Sorry kids!
I did make a promise to Avery that if she was a great listener and went to sleep like a big girl all week that she could have a surprise today. She has been REALLY good (she loves to take care of me when I am sick, that must come from Aunt Julz or maybe Mamaw) so she got a scooter today and she loves it!
Jake has done pretty well without his paci, except at bedtime, so for that I am thankful. I will be very happy when he starts sleeping through the night again though! Whew, I am tired! On a better note, he got his "big ole band aid" off this week and is starting to use his hand more everyday! So far, we are think we are not going to have any physical therapy or surgery! Thank You God!
That is about all for us this week, I hope yours has been great!
Friday, April 11, 2008
No More Paci-Wire
Yesterday after naps I decided that our precious boy no longer needed his paci-wire, as he calls it! WOW!!! To whoever reads this post and thinks it is cruel to take things like this away when they are little, I strongly disagree! It is so much easier when they are little! When they are 2 years old and can tell you how sad they are..that is cruel! I held him as he cried for 2 hours straight, I watched him as he threw himself on the floor, I laughed as he sang " I love my Paci, oh yes I do..." (yes, he really sang that). I have heard all of the ideas people have, have a paci-party and send them off with balloons, cut the tips off, give them to a baby, etc. and that is what my intention was. But yesterday when I asked for him to give it to me and he wouldn't. I decided it was time.
For those who know me, this is not a surprise. I will procrastinate for a long time, but when I decide to do something.. Watch out.. No one is safe.
If I could only decide to eat healthy. If I could only decide to exercise-every day. Maybe someday.
I have to go...another round of crying is starting. Pray for us! He is really sooo sad! :(
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Spring Break
We have been having a great week, finally lots of sunshine! It has been so great to play outside! It is amazing how hungry the kids get after running around the backyard! We have been to the park and the zoo and its only Wed. I just wanted to share some pictures with you! Thanks for checking in!
Friday, April 4, 2008
I am Thankful
I am feeling especially thankful today. Nothing special happened today, no special phone calls, no unexpected checks came in the mail, no breakfast in bed, just a regular day at home with the kiddos. It started out as all mornings do with Jake calling "Mommy!!!" We cuddled for a 1/2 hour and started our day. Avery told she loves me, and we all came down for our "fuel". Coffee for me, milk for them. We have been cleaning while watching the Bee movie. Nothing special.
I am just thankful for being able to be home with the kids.
Hearing Avery's excitement as she says
"Mommy, LOOK! All the water Jesus has been sending to the flowers is working! They have big green leaves on them and will be growing flowers soon!"
Being able to blow her nose for the 700th time this morning, cuddle her when she is sad and teach her how to clean the baseboards. (No laughing! I was actually cleaning the baseboards, and she wanted to help!)
Hearing Jake sing "Happy Birthday to Jakey" and tell me its his birthday(its not!). And watching him watch in awe as the bee's on the TV swirled around in front of him.
Nothing Special. Everything I signed up for when I quit work to stay at home!
I am so thankful that I am able to be here for those little moments that are so easily missed and most often taken for granted.
I am so thankful for my husband who is encouraging, thoughtful and supportive of me.
I am thankful for my family. I have the best family a girl could ever ask for. My parents, in-laws, brother and sister and their families, aunts and uncles... No drama or fighting (ok maybe a little :) ). Close friendships and lots of love and laughter!
I am thankful for my friends. They are a constant source of entertainment!
I am thankful for God blessing me and my family so much!
Enough already.. I know. Thanks for reading.
I am just thankful for being able to be home with the kids.
Hearing Avery's excitement as she says
"Mommy, LOOK! All the water Jesus has been sending to the flowers is working! They have big green leaves on them and will be growing flowers soon!"
Being able to blow her nose for the 700th time this morning, cuddle her when she is sad and teach her how to clean the baseboards. (No laughing! I was actually cleaning the baseboards, and she wanted to help!)
Hearing Jake sing "Happy Birthday to Jakey" and tell me its his birthday(its not!). And watching him watch in awe as the bee's on the TV swirled around in front of him.
Nothing Special. Everything I signed up for when I quit work to stay at home!
I am so thankful that I am able to be here for those little moments that are so easily missed and most often taken for granted.
I am so thankful for my husband who is encouraging, thoughtful and supportive of me.
I am thankful for my family. I have the best family a girl could ever ask for. My parents, in-laws, brother and sister and their families, aunts and uncles... No drama or fighting (ok maybe a little :) ). Close friendships and lots of love and laughter!
I am thankful for my friends. They are a constant source of entertainment!
I am thankful for God blessing me and my family so much!
Enough already.. I know. Thanks for reading.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Resilence
As some of you may know, Jake burned his hand last week and it required a trip to the er, a plastic surgeon and what I can only assume to be many more visits to the dr. and hopefully only a small amount of physical therapy. For those who were not aware, he burned it on the glass in front of a fireplace. It happened most accidents do, in a matter of seconds, when he was just around the corner from 4 very compentent adults.
Anyway, that is not the point of this blog. I am amazed at the resilence of children! Within 3 hours he was cuddling on the couch with me and he slept a ton that night, I am sure due to pure exhaustion. But he has not been slowed down since. He is running playing, climbing, falling, rough housing and giving no thought to his "big ole bandaid" unless he finds a string off the gauze or when we change it.
It made me think that if only we could brush things off like this and have the never quit attitude of a child. How far we could go. How much does concentrating on the things that should slow us down effect our daily productivity?
Anyway, that is not the point of this blog. I am amazed at the resilence of children! Within 3 hours he was cuddling on the couch with me and he slept a ton that night, I am sure due to pure exhaustion. But he has not been slowed down since. He is running playing, climbing, falling, rough housing and giving no thought to his "big ole bandaid" unless he finds a string off the gauze or when we change it.
It made me think that if only we could brush things off like this and have the never quit attitude of a child. How far we could go. How much does concentrating on the things that should slow us down effect our daily productivity?
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