Happy Birthday to Alyssa!

Alyssa is 5 today....It is so crazy how fast the years are going!  She is a ball of fire:  feisty, fun, fierce, etc.

Since her birthday is on a Wednesday, we won't do our family party until the weekend.  But, we did do a little celebration, just for us...

She got her first real bike, a helmet, a fuzzy monster thing that she begged for...and a birthday balloon - which she has wanted all year!

Happy 5th Birthday, Alyssa!!!

School Days....

August is almost over, we celebrated our 16th anniversary yesterday, and we now have all four school aged kids in school, officially!

Today was Alyssa's 1st full day of school.  She is in the Kindergarten Readiness Class this year, we have been doing phase in days the past few days...Doesn't she look happy?  She is pretty excited to be at the same school as the twins this year...I am too...no more driving all the way to Eagleville every day!

The other 3 kiddos started on August 10th - they are doing pretty well and seem to like their teachers.  Don't they look big?  Zach is in the 6th grade - we are officially "old" now that we have a middle-schooler!  His shirt tucked in has absolutely nothing to do with my fashion sense - they have to tuck them in for middle school...Kind of nerdy, if you ask me, but it is for safety reasons (they want to make sure the kids don't have bad things in their pockets)...He is doing the Cross Country team this year and really seems to enjoy running.  Reagan and Emma are in the 3rd grade...sure have come a long way since they were 3 lbs 6 oz and 4 lbs 7 oz!

Here's to a great school year!  Hoping it is much less drama filled than the last one...

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Ashleigh is kind of, well....sad...that they are all gone, especially Alyssa.  She has been telling me that she is going to Kindergarten "tomorrow"...Sadly, I am sure that it will seem like tomorrow for me!  The years are going by so fast, I just want her to stay little for longer...

Our little miss turns three...

Today is Ashleigh's 3rd birthday.  Time sure does fly when you are having fun!  It is crazy to think that my sweet baby is now a sassy, potty trained, into everything, little girl who thinks she is bigger than she really is.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ashleigh ever since before she was born.  Probably my most enjoyable pregnancy, easiest baby and toddler.  She has been so much fun!

Last night, I slaved away over a new dress so that she could wear it to church on her birthday...nothing like waiting until the last minute (story of my life).  Today I made her cake/cupcakes for her family party.  She is birthday buddies with Kade, so we had a mexican dinner at our house with cake and ice cream.  As always, it is a blast when the cousins all get together and play!  And the noise level is CRAZY!

All the little girls at play, including Sophie

So excited over her backpack!

Ashleigh got her first bike from us, a helmet from Grandma and Grandpa, a backpack, a pony set from her aunts and uncles/cousins, and a painting book from our dear friends, the Philburns.  All in all, she is a happy and very tired little girl!

A picture is worth 1,000 words!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ashleigh Kate!  We love you so much and look forward to watching you grow even more!

Easter

Easter Sunday was pretty low key at our house.  We celebrated the night before with a huge egg hunt and cook out at Mom and Dad's place.  The kids had a ball, got completely sugared up and ran around like lunatics.  Watching Reagan and Emma paired up in the 3 legged race was a little worrisome.  He took off running and dragged her behind him!  I was afraid she would end up with a broken ankle.

Sunday was good.  I stayed up late on Saturday night making the skirts for the girls to wear...I have definitely been procrastinating too much lately!  We went to church (on time) and came home later to roast beef w/carrots and potatoes in the crockpot...yum.  I was only able to snap a few pictures, none of them very good, I'm afraid.  It is really difficult to have so many brats sweet children look at the camera without grimacing, I guess.

For posterity...

And yes, Ashleigh is picking the flowers out of my pot and putting them in her mouth...

Here is a cute pic I got that is Ashleigh only, sans flower:

Things That Go Bump in the Night...

It's a cool night.  For some reason, I am restless in my sleep.  4 am and dawn is just around the corner.  I am picturing the road that we live on.  We are playing in the yard, you and I.  All of a sudden, you start running on the side of the road.  You have a head start and I can't catch you.  You dart into the street...run back to the side...dart out again.  I am running, breathless, screaming for you to stop.  You don't listen...after all, you are two...

Then, it happens.  The truck that is barreling down our road, just like they all do.  Apparently, speed limits don't mean anything in the country.  I scream louder, and run faster.  You dart again, right in front of the truck.  My subconscious is hysterical.  I kneel next to you and gather your small, lifeless body into my arms and rock.  

Then I wake up and look at the clock.  My heart is racing, my mind is spinning.  All I want is to pull you out of bed and hold you, check you over to make sure that you are okay.  That would be silly, why wake you up at 4 am?  I doze, on and off for another hour...still processing it in my mind.  At 5 am, I hear you cry out.  I jump out of bed and go to your room.  "My feet are cold", you say...I gather your sweet little body into my arms and bring you into my bed.  You snuggle your warm little body into mine, digging your ice cold feet into me.  I hold you and my heart calms down, the panic has subsided.

Sometimes, even Mommies have nightmares.  Much worse than monsters and things that go bump in the night. 

"March"ing into Spring...

Here in Tennessee, we have had a strangely warm winter this year...There have been many springlike days to trick us into wanting to pull out the capri pants and sandals, go walking on the nature trail, and plan a vacation!  Then, the next day is filled with nasty rain and wind...All in all, you really can't complain much about the 70 degree weather we have been having in February!

The funny thing about this, is that even though it has been warmer, the winter blahs have still descended upon us.  We want REAL spring, where the flowers and trees will grow and not freeze, park days where the bathroom is actually open (it is rough when you are potty training and there is no potty nearby), and little girls in flippy little skirts and pony tails.

I am happy to report that we are almost there!  The sunlight is peeking through...with the end of February upon us and the beginning of March nearly here, the grass will become green again and the little onions will start growing in our yards!

So, if it has been a dark winter for anyone else, like it has been for us - we are almost there!  Hang in there and I'll see you on the other side...we are "leaping" into spring!

Happy Leap Day!

And a special shout out to my nephew, Trevor, who is celebrating his 2nd Leapyear birthday today!  He is 8 in actuality, but it is a special day that he really only sees every four years..

Happy Birthday Trevor!

Four (Responding to a tag)

So, I am a stalker follower of Becky's blog and today I noticed that she tagged me to post...Good for me because I am rapidly losing the month of February and I put on my bucket list that I was going to blog at least 2 times/month...So - here is post #1 for February...

Four:

Four things that I am obsessed with lately:

1.  Trying to get my kids under control...they are crazy little lunatics right now...not sure if it is just that they are stir-crazy or what, but enough already!

2.  Reading...Reading is my escape from, well....everything...I have been reading a lot the past few months...probably because my kids are driving me crazy!

3.  Fabric remnant bins...you find the cutest little pieces of cheap fabric in the remnant bins!  Perfect for little skirts or shorts.  Not for me - for my kids...I couldn't squeeze my left toe into a fabric remnant!

4.  Thinking of new ways to make my little house feel bigger...it isn't working...yet.  I have a lot of ideas that I am anxious to implement...I think I am going to get rid of all the furniture and we can just sit on cushions on the floor...that should make it feel very spacious, don't you think???

4 Things I'm Good At:

1.  Cooking.  I am a good cook.  Not afraid to say it.  I really enjoy cooking, it relaxes me.  Baking really makes me feel happy, but I have to be careful, because if I bake too much, then my jeans don't fit and then I am sad.

2.  Knowing my body.  When something is going wrong - I usually know.  A few weeks ago, I just felt awful.  No energy, wanted a nap everyday, depressed, etc.  I decided to go have my thyroid checked and sure enough, I needed a medication increase.  If I had waited until my regularly scheduled appointment, the problem would have been a lot worse.  I am happy to report that after a few weeks on the new dose, my energy is coming back and I feel SO much better.

3.  My job.  I enjoy my little piddly part-time job that helps pay the bills.  I've done it over 7 years now (closed loans) and I am really good with the people.  The break is nice too...I also like how it allows me to be with the kids as much as possible...Some days that is more of a blessing than others ;)

4.  Telling people what to do Giving Advice.  Yes, I am bossy.  I read a lot and I have been through a lot and I research things out.  So, if you come to me with a problem, or just need to vent - I am a jack-of-all-trades at helping out.

4 Things I'm Looking Forward to This Year:

1.  School starting in the fall...whoops, did I say that out loud?  I mean, for goodness sakes, it isn't even spring yet...I have to admit that I really dread the dog days of summer when my kids are bored out of their minds and can't go outside because it is too hot...I think that the start of school is a relief to all of us!

2.  Spring.  I love Spring.  I want to plant flowers and plants.  I hate how dead everything is right now...My house needs some color on the outside, but I have to wait until it is warm...

3.  Ashleigh being completely potty trained.  We are almost there...so close.  A few accidents here and there, nothing major.  We haven't bought pull-ups in weeks.  This will be the 1st time in over 12 years that we haven't had to buy diapers...

4.  A trip.  I don't know where we are going - Disney World will probably not be for us this year since they are being super stingy with the discounts (the only way we could afford it before)...But, we are going somewhere, even if it is only for a few days.

4 Foods I Eat the Most:

1.  Mexican Food.  Love it, love it, love it...Especially the shrimp quesadillas that I have been making lately, and chips and good salsa...Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmmmm...

2.  Fruit.  I am really on a fruit kick right now.  Pineapple (even though it makes my throat itch), mandarin oranges and the little cuties, strawberries, etc.

3.  Soup.  Usually I make a crockpot of some type of soup every week.  It stretches the budget and feeds us for a few days so that I don't have to cook dinner every night.  Taco Soup, White Chicken Chili, and homemade chicken noodle are my "go to" soups.

4.  Celery.  The past few weeks I have been craving celery like it is going out of style...Can't get enough.  I looked it up and found out that if you are working out more (which I am) then you crave celery because your body needs more sodium...Interesting.

5.  And I had to add chocolate.  I don't eat it every day, or all the time...but I have to admit, if I am stressed or having a bad day, a piece of Dove Chocolate is just what the doctor ordered!

4 Things I Want to Teach My Kids:

1.  To be self-sufficient.  Nuff said.

2.  To be good citizens and respect others.

3.  To love Heavenly Father first, and have a relationship with Him.

4.  To clean up after themselves.  Sure wish this one would happen soon!

4 Things I'd Do if I Were a Billionaire:

1.  Pay off all my bills.

2.  Pay off my parents house so my dad could retire, and send them to Scotland and Ireland...my mother's dream.

3.  Take my entire family on vacation - no spending limits.

4.  Help others in any way that I can.  Paying off people's layaway's at Christmas like the people in the news last Christmas, helping people make a difference in the world.

4 People I Tag:  

I think that there are a few people (maybe two) that read my blog...oh, and no fair putting both Kristen and I as one person, Becky...that way we can't tag each other!

1.  So, I'm still gonna tag Kristen, because I beat her on completing this assignment!

2.  Jen (Yes little Miss Mayberry Jen, that's you!)

3.  Lisa (If you are reading this...it has been WAY too long since you blogged, girl!)

4.  Lois (well, if you had a blog...you really need one - way too many cute grandkid stories!)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

A letter to my children...

Dear Children,

There are a few things that have been going on at our house lately that make me crazy...and laugh like a loon...Someday, when you read this, I'm sure you won't remember any of it...documenting for posterity's sake.

To my #1 hoarder...we cleaned your room again today for the 3rd time this month.  This time, we went through all the drawers and refolded the clothes.  There ARE better ways to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon, son!  Please refrain from saving every empty wrapper, baggie from your snack, tag from your new clothes, etc.  Those shows that we have had you watch are REAL!  Love you tons....hope next month goes better!

Dear, sweet/funny/exasperating child...Your new habit of putting plastic baggies over your head is really freaking us out!  We've locked all of the big ones up now so that you won't suffocate yourself.  I know you watched that space movie last week, and are just trying to recreate helmets (very creative, by the way) but it is giving ME grey hair...I think, under all my roots...Oh, and it is also not acceptable to put plastic bags over your stuffed animals' heads.  They need air to breathe, too...Just ask Woody from Toy Story!

To my Contrary Princess...Rolling your eyes and stomping around whenever I ask you to do something is NOT working for me.  For crying out loud, you are 8, not 13...put on your big girl panties and deal with it!  Trust me, things will only get better from here! ;)  Oh, and word to the wise...if you help more and complain less, I will like you a lot more and will do more fun things with you...got it??? Good.

To Queen picky...Where do I even begin?  Asking for a snack before dinner is over is not in your best interest...Your fascinating display this evening of spreading salad dressing on all of your lettuce leaves, then sucking it off was really special...Thanks for that!  Anyway, if you don't start eating something besides fruit and chicken nuggets soon, I'm not sure if you will be the fairest in the land...girl gotta have some nutrition to be beautiful!

To Princess Sweet Pea...While you are showing the signs of independence, I love that you still want to "hold" me when you go to sleep at night...You have issues of your own, but watching you discover the world is a beautiful thing...Oh, and last night when you wouldn't let me go potty because I was holding you, and 5 minutes later asked me if I had "peed in my pants", I realized that you are definitely related to all the rest of my little hellions!

Love you all - hope this week brings about some progress and some new/exciting/not so dangerous issues...

Love,

Mom

One of those days...

Some days make you want to scream, don't they???

Today has been one of those days...it started out with the dog peeing on the floor of the boys' room.  Yuck.  This single event had the power to make us late.  For everything.  Threw breakfast at the kids, shoved them out the door, jumped in the car for yet another long trek out to Eagleville.  We were actually barely on time for Alyssa to go to school - small victory!

Went and worked out - that was good - made me feel like a rock star that I can do a resistance of 10 and most of the "New Years Resolution" crowd beginners around me could barely do a 1.  I know, mean, but it made me feel good about how far I have come...

Anyway, ran a bunch of errands - decided to go to lunch at one of my favorite places "Taco Express" (soon to be renamed Oscar's Taco Shop, since they are related)...Took Ashleigh (who is potty training) to the bathroom a zillion times.

Then, Kristen and I went to Sam's Club to renew our membership.  We were able to save a little money and get a business membership, due to my job...we walked around for a bit - about 1/2 an hour, and checked out.

Clay met me in the parking lot to get his lunch from my car.  And then, my husband, who is the person who probably wouldn't notice if I stood on the street corner with my entire body painted neon orange said, "What is on your pants???"  Um.  I don't know.  What does it look like?  I am afraid to look.  "Well, poop.  It looks like poop." 

Oh man.  I had been walking around Sams for over 1/2 an hour and I had something nasty on the back of my pants?  Kristen - I owe you one!  I sneaked a look.  "Yup.  It looked like poop.  But, we determined that I must have sat in some nasty looking refried beans at lunch.  Clay sponged me off (Bless him) and I continued on my errands.

Later on, we were on our way back from the eye doctor getting #1's new glasses.  We had 3 children screaming at us.  Like banshees.  It was awful, couldn't even drown them out with loud music.  So, I did what every other self-respecting parent would do.  I pulled over to the side of a country road.  Pulled out my book, and told them that we would be sitting there until they stopped.  At first, I don't think that they believed me.  But after 5 minutes, when I was still reading my book, and it was getting darker and they were getting hungrier, they decided to shut their pieholes.

We continued on our way.  Only to have another tantrum at home.

So, now I have a headache.  And need chocolate.  And a vacation.  From my kids.  And my house.  And winter.  And bills.  And doctor appointments which create more bills.

I think that I am going to bed early tonight.  With a bag of chocolate chips and a pile of new library books....Pure bliss!