Contents of My Heart

Halloween (Part II)

2011-11-03T21:58:00.010-06:00

Halloween 2011 has come and has gone, leaving nothing but a couple of kids who had belly aches the next day, dirty costumes and fond memories -- exactly the way it should be!!

We took mom and then met up with the Thomases at our church's annual Harvest Festival.'

Estimated attendance at this year's event was close to 5,000 people - unbelievable. It was a lot of fun, and we saw lots of friends. Josh was happy that quite a few guys his age were there and they could trick or treat too. It appears you never get too old for candy.

Ellie dressed up as Minnie Mouse tonight. She allowed me to paint her nose on for photos at home, and even went across the street to Terry and Andrea's house, but then came home and SHE went and got a rag and washed it off. "I not like it," she informed me. She also did not like her "had to have" ears that light up. They hurt her head. So we opted for a sweet little Minnie Mouse bow purchased at consignment with the thoughts that this might happen.

After the Harvest Festival, we all stopped in at the local Dairy Queen for dinner (because we certainly didn't eat hotdogs, chili, cotton candy OR popcorn at the festival -- right!). Afterwards, Josh was terribly disappointed that it was too late to go to a neighborhood and trick or treat some more. This is the same kid who wasn't going this year.

It was a good year.

These are some of my favorite photos from this year:

Duracell bunny!

Ellie and her BFF Addie:

Hot diggity dog!

Ms. Kay's pumpkin in jail:

"Coach" Sullivan and his referree wife, Teresa:

Ellie and another of her BFFs, Elaina.

Scary man - ha!

Mario Brothers - cute idea!

Probably the one that made me laugh the loudest: "White Trash"

Sing along with me, "I'm Popeye the sailor man (toot toot) ..."

Halloween (Part I)

2011-10-29T20:06:00.004-06:00

Tonight we started off our Halloween fun. There were three local churches who were hosting Trunk or Treat activities and we took Ellie to hit them all.

It started off hard because Ellie did NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT (see the emphasis) want to have any makeup put on her face. Now, every single day she comes into my bathroom and wants me to put make up on her. Every day. Then, finally, on a day where I told her we could do a little blush and a little eyeliner and some sparkles (minor, but just to make her happy), she throws an all out, screaming, crying hissy fit. My mother heard her from outside our house when she arrived. Needless to say, we didn't put any makeup on. She told me she "didn't want her friends to see her with makeup on." Huh? Man, have I got a lot to look forward to.

This photo is everything sans an eye-roll. I have SO much to look forward to in about ten years!!

This was the first year that Josh didn't dress up for Halloween. That made me sad. He went along with us and said he had fun, but he's growing up too, too fast.

We finally got Ellie in her (drooping wings) ladybug costume and hit the road. First stop was New Hope Free Will Baptist where we got to visit with folks we had not seen in a while. This was our first home church after we had Josh and it will always remain a special place for us. Many of our family members still go there.

Next stop was Clarksville Hwy Church of Christ. We love their Halloween festivities. They have a "Trail of Treats" that runs through the woods where you trick or treat at different stations. When you are finished you get a hayride back to the bonfire and then can walk over to hear a band and get some hotdogs, chips and drinks. It was a lot of fun there. This was my first church ever -- it is the church my parents attended when they brought me home.

And, the last stop on the rounds was at Joelton Church of Christ for their trunk or treat. Joelton was where I was baptized as a child. It was where I went most of the years I was growing up.

Finally, we headed over for dinner at the local Subway. A smoking hot Saturday night, huh? It was actually fun, though!

We are looking forward to Part II on Monday night when we will hit our church's Trunk or Treat.

Here is "the take" (minus what Ellie ate at New Hope while we visited and in the car on the way home).

(Ugh, hair in her face). She was MUCH happier after Trick or Treating than before, I can assure you of that!! Next outing, we go at Minnie Mouse.

Honesty

2011-10-27T21:43:00.002-06:00

Maybe if I write about it, I can begin to let it go.

And that's one of the reasons I originally started this blog -- to write about things in a journal type format so that I can work through things, share things, remember things years from now...

It's a hard topic and one I've been struggling with since January 10 of this year -- the day my dad died.

I am a Christian. I do not doubt my salvation experience and I have fully accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior who has forgiven me of my sins.

I am far from perfect and struggle every day.

But I have never had this struggle before in my walk with God.

I am angry with God.

I am angry that He took my father from me, my mom and my children. We were not ready. Now, of course, I know we would have never been ready, but we still need him. I am angry that my children will not have a grandfather now -- that they will not get the years of love, advice and fun with him that the should have had.

Rationally I know that I should not be angry with God. I have read the stages of grief for people who have lost family members. The first phase is shock. The second phase is denial. The third phase is anger. The fourth phase is mourning and the final phase is recovery.

A quote I read states, "In addition, grief is not really a cycle. A cycle implies that you return to the
beginning which was a "normal" life as it was prior to the death. Of course this
is not true. Life will never be the same again."

I see that this anger has come between my relationship with God. Again, rationally, I know I need to move past this, but somehow I don't seem to be. I keep asking myself if it's just a crutch -- if I just need to "pony up" and get over it.

It's during these times of trial that I fall back on all that I know about God and His love and His promises that I have learned through the years. But at the same time, my head has been unable to talk to my heart. Because my heart thinks that God could have saved him, could have let him stay. But it was a "no" answer to fervent prayer.

Tonight Josh, Ellie and I went to Zaxby's for dinner and we sat in a booth that we had sat in as a family of six last year at Josh's birthday, when we gave him his Xbox 360. Almost a year ago. Now, he's not here.

I feel like, at some level, I have been avoiding my feelings and just not dealing with them because it is just so stinking hard, and that maybe if I could find a way to do that, maybe, just maybe, I could find my way back. But, I don't know that.

I read that everyone's process is different and that I should be patient and tolerant with myself. I am told that my feelings of anger at God are "normal" and that the resulting guilt from those feelings is normal well. I can't find anywhere how to get past it. I can't find that answer. I hope that eventually I can -- I need to.

Am I Crazy?

2011-10-27T20:49:00.006-06:00

I've pondered this post for a while. I've spent quite a while thinking about it. I'm still not sure that I KNOW all the ins and outs of what I'm about to "talk" about, but I'm going to try.

Josh.

One day, he has to be the "man" of his home. He has to be the breadwinner. Does that mean his wife won't work or will stay home and take care of kids? I don't know. Maybe she'll be a high paid attorney, or the President or work at Wal-mart. Maybe he won't have kids. Maybe he'll have fourteen (Lord, please, no!). Regardless of which, ultimately, he is responsible for providing for and managing his family.

Maybe we will have the second coming first. Maybe not. Just in case it's not, it's our job as parents to make sure he is prepared to do that job.

That's part one.

It is our job to keep our child safe. As adults we are to be aware of all the factors in his environment: his music, his friends, his video games, his schools, his vehicles, where he is, his sports, his teachers, his pastors, his church, the books he reads, the television he watches, the food he eats, the choices he makes, the clothes he wears. Sometimes it's overwhelming to be a parent.

To that end, many times things that are passed off as "normal" and "it's everywhere" or "it's the times we are living in" become statements to smooth over the edges of something that, at first glance, seems just plain wrong.

Take for example, police officers in schools.

I don't shop in places that are dangerous and require police officers (at least not more than once). I try not to put myself in areas of town where there is known danger. I don't knowingly walk into dangerous situations.

But I send my child to school where police officers are present. And I'm told they are there to keep my child safe. Safe, really?

(Great, I stopped typing to watch TV and lost my train of thought -- darn ADD, huh?)

I know, from studies, that smaller classroom sizes and smaller teacher:student ratios improve learning. It also makes sense on a common sense level.

I know that, in today's world, even people with college degrees are struggling to find jobs. There is a high level of accomplishment required in today's job market. My son will have to have a job one day. I suspect that knowing how to write a research paper will be helpful in his future -- a skill that, as an eighth grader, I would have thought he would have already been taught. But, no. I think that knowing how to spell will be helpful on a job application. I was told by a teacher that it didn't matter because there is spell check on computers now.

I know that surrounding oneself with people of like values, positive attitudes, discipline and respect creates an environment for developing the same values, positive attitudes, disciple and respect. I know that Kevin and I have been fighting a losing battle. I can try to teach values, positive attitudes, discipline and respect for the hours I have my son at home, but he is then influenced by others he is around at school -- regardless of whether those are different from what we are teaching or not, he is influenced and behaviors are influenced by this.

It is for these reasons that we have decided to take Josh out of public school and put him into a private, Christian school.

I was asked today if it was the "teachers or students" that we were dissatisfied with at his current school. I paused for a while and said that I thought it might just be the overall attitude of apathy all the way around.

When you are in a situation that you know you can't change -- no matter how much you want to, how different you are from the environment, how wrong you think things are -- you eventually get worn down and get tired. From that point, apathy sets in. And, I think, that might just be the status. The teachers see so very much that is sad, wrong, difficult and they can't do anything about it. Remember, there is police there now because the teachers can't do anything.

I have struggled to find the reasons -- it's easy to point out this one thing, this other thing, but independently they all sound pretty paltry. It makes me sound like I think I'm "better". But it's not that at all -- it's that I want better for my son. I don't want to look back four, five, ten years from now and think, "If I had just done something sooner ..." I want to keep him as safe as possible. I want him to have every opportunity to become a man of discipline, values, hard work, accountability, responsibility and respect. I want an environment that is supportive of my efforts to do that for him -- not one that seems to be apathetic to those efforts.

I know, it's rambling. I'll probably read back through it later and go, "Wow, you need to write in a less 'stream of consciousness' manner, but it is what it is. It is the reason. It is my job as a parent: analyze, ponder, be proactive or reactive and make choices. Someone should have told me this was going to be hard.

Welcome to the world, Tuck Land

2011-10-27T20:40:00.002-06:00

Today, our friends Jeff and Abbey became parents again to a sweet baby boy, Tuck -- born in Taiwan! Yes, they are adopting again. Tonight we stopped by their house for cupcakes, coffee and a Scentsy party. It was a lot of fun and was good to see friends and to celebrate adoption!!
Ellie loves playing with her friends, Reed, Nash and Will. She and Nash are in the same MDO and go to church together -- and they are both sweet little Asian faced sweeties.

I wish I could share a photo of his sweet face, but until the adoption is final, they cannot share photos. Suffice it to say, he is beautiful and looks just like his big brother, Will!!

Check out LandLife for more details about their fun times as parents of three (now four) young boys.

Morning Surprise

2011-10-26T16:16:00.002-06:00

This morning as I walked across a yard to take a photo of a home I was inspecting, I came upon this scene.

They never seemed terribly afraid of me as I stood (looking/sounding like a fool talking to them) there. Eventually they turned around and walked off into the woods. It just was such a sweet thing to run upon and made my day happy!

Photo Blurry - Memory ... Priceless

2011-10-25T21:28:00.003-06:00

This is one of those proverbial "thousand word" photos that even though it turned out blurry, I couldn't help but want to share.

Pure Bliss

2011-10-25T20:13:00.007-06:00

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to capture the "perfect" photo that I forget that sometimes the most perfect photos are the ones that are "real". I was doing a photo shoot for my dear friend, Kirstin, yesterday at the soccer field at school. Ellie and Josh were playing on the playground when I realized I needed shade and called Josh to bring the umbrella. Ellie was so excited to get to come out on the field and "help". I captured her running across the field, hands wide, grinning from ear to ear, yelling, "Mommy!!" It was priceless.

And then there was the one of her playing UNDER the umbrella that Josh set up like a tent for her.

Ellie has discovered a love for all things Iphone too. She can operate it as well, if not better, than I can. During the photo shoot, she didn't miss a beat taking photos alongside me.

Isn't it great when your iphone matches your outfit? :-) Leave it to Els to be concerned about that.

And, finally, it was a good shoot. Those of you who have known me *forever* know that I used to babysit Kirstin and her brother Braiden. I started when Kirstin was in kindergarten. I have been "Miseria" to them for years and watched the grow like they were mine. What a blessing to get to take photos of Kirstin now! She has grown into such a fantastic young woman. I have a feeling we just might see her in the Olympics one day. I hope I'll be able to be there cheering her on -- and, of course, snapping a few photos of her!

A New Beginning

2011-10-23T18:36:00.002-06:00

I am going to make a conscious effort to begin blogging again. While I may never "get it published" like I had dreamed, it has served as a wonderful/useful reference for my memory and for photos when I need something permanent.

It seems that my life has been taken over by so much technology that I have got to begin cutting something, though. I have a Nook Color to "read" on but I can also browse the internet and check my email. It has a dozen or so apps that Ellie loves to play with, including, puzzles, read-to-me books and a paper doll app. I find pretty much all my reading materials and apps for FREE on Facebook from a page called Cheap e-books. Now, they aren't "first run" material, but I've never been one to base a book on popularity, but more often on content. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised with all the free books I've managed to accumulate. Kevin also has a Nook Color and I passed my regular Nook down to Josh in hopes he'll be able to use it for school reading. So far, however, he still prefers paper books to e-books. There is something to be sad for the "feel" of a real book, though -- something I may never fully get over in my transition to ebooks.

I also recently purchased an Iphone. WOW. It has ALL kinds of "gadgets" and "toys" on it that I never knew I needed!! I have an app, I think, to tell me when it's time to do laundry -- crazy. (Yes, that is a joke). I know when it's time to do laundry when we can't walk through the house.

The Iphone even has a Netflix app that allows Ellie to watch her "kiddie" shows when we are on the road.

And tomorrow is the three year anniversary of bringing Ellie home from Kyrgyzstan. Today we experience another sweet moment in her discovery of how she came to be a part of our family. She had a blanket that was Josh's when he was a baby. She asked, "Was this Josh's when he was in the orphanage." I was a little stumped. I told her that no, Josh didn't live in an orphanage. She asked where he lived. I told her he grew in my tummy and was born in a hospital. She didn't miss a beat when she said, "Oh, so this is his blanket from the hospital." We talked last week (on the day we picked her up) about her living in and leaving the orphanage. She took it with a grain of salt. I know it's early, but I want it to always be the story she remembers -- not something new and surprising for her one day.

I can't believe it's been three years. This December, our dossier will have been in China for five years. I am sending a letter soon to pull our dossier. We are done. Our family is very much complete. We have two children with very large personalities that require lots of energy. We only have so much energy - ha! So, we continue to support other families who are trying to adopt in whatever manner we can. We continue to pray for the Kyrgyz 65 -- 65 children who were matched and ready to come home when Ellie did, but due to bureaucratic "stuff" (yes, I have another word for it), they are still stuck in orphanages. It could have been my child. I wonder regularly why it wasn't mine. I have high hopes that they will be coming home very, very soon.

Ellie has developed into a girl who moves a lot, sleeps a little, talks NON-STOP (seriously, non-stop), can take apart a room in 10 seconds flat, loves scissors (which is why she cut her hair a few months back), art supplies/crafts, has to constantly be touching me. She wants to sit on me, sleep with me, hold my hand -- it's very, very sweet, but sometimes exhausting too.

She LOVES preschool. She asks everyday where she is going that day and when it's preschool days she gets so excited. I am glad one of my kids is in love with school.

Speaking of Josh, he will likely be changing school after Christmas. We have talked about changing him when he starts high school and had visited several schools. We have finally made a decision and decided to go ahead and let him move sooner so he will have time to adjust academically before he begins football in the spring/fall. We are hopeful that this will be a change that will benefit his life. We are entering the critical, important phase of his life where decisions will affect the rest of his life. I can't believe he will be 14 in less than a month. He has grown taller, his voice has deepened and he can, on occassion, have a "real" conversation. :-) He is a great "fix-it" guy and is my go-to guy for technology when I can't quite figure it out.

Kevin has a new job, working from a home office. While it's a blessing to not have the gas expense, sometimes we step on each other's toes trying to both work from home. We try really hard to schedule our days in the field on opposite days so we can each have a quiet work from home day.

I started a photography business back at the beginning of the year, Maria Latham Photography. I had planned to spend a year in growth, development and discovery. Shockingly, that year is almost over. It has been such a great year and I am excited about what is to come in the future. It is the thing I am passionate about. I love capturing moments in people's lives. It allows me to work the creative side of my brain.

So, that's pretty much all that is exciting around our house right now -- all in all it sounds pretty dull, but it's our life.

Hoping to do better with the blogging -- including some updated photos.

Random Summer Pictures

2011-08-07T20:46:00.005-06:00

Here are some random images from this summer (and NOT in order because that takes too much time).

Josh sliding into third at the all-stars games in Dyersburg.

Photo by my mom at the creek. Don't they look like they love each other??

This is how long Ellie's hair was right before she cut it. She loves to read about "Francis". I love it too because I remember it from when I was a little girl.

Josh's 13 year old Allstar team

Josh and Ellie swimming in the pool in Dyersburg. It was the first time Ellie had been back in a pool since her trauma -- swimming lessons.

Josh in Dyersburg.

"Model" Ellie showing off mama's sunglasses -- right after she got her hair braided. ADORABLE!

Ellie "chillaxing" at the ballpark on one of her favorite "blankies".

Josh on second base -- ready!

"THE" Haircut -- I called it the modified mullet.

Ellie's haircut afterwards. She is celebrating at her friend Natalie's birthday party.

Josh (#74) at the first scrimmage of the season.

WOW -- Life is going so quickly!!

2011-08-07T20:00:00.002-06:00

I have taken a two week hiatus from work. I needed the time to get our life back together, back on track and ready for school. I have worked at this job for nine years and don't remember EVER having two weeks off. I'm beyond excited. Of course, not getting paid won't be such a great thing, but there is more important things right now that need to get done.

So, I'm doing a quickie blog post to try to cram everything in our lives in one post. Possible? Probably not.

Summer has flown by so quickly that I would swear we didn't get one. School starts back next week for Josh and on the 23rd for Ellie. I think she is looking forward to getting back to her friends. Josh, not so much.

Summer held lots of time at the baseball park with Josh. He was chosen to play on the All-Star team this year and we travelled to Dyersburg for the State tournaments. We didn't place, but the boys did well and it was fun going, being with friends and getting away a little bit.

Kevin has a new job and it allows him to work from home. Of course, he still works in the field quite a bit, but his primary base of operations is a home office. We have YET to get the office cleared out to make him an "appropriate" office, but hopefully during my two weeks off we can get that done.

Consignment has been going hot and heavy and I have completed two and have two more to go before Fall season is over for me. I'm glad to report they have spread them out some so I'm not doing back to back to back. I have gotten some great finds for Ellie's fall clothes. We haven't been looking for any toys or large items this time because the girl has more than she can/will play with. As a matter of fact, we are trying to weed things down some.

Speaking of Ellie, she had a riot of passage this summer when she cut her hair. I was working consignment and she was upstairs while Kevin was working. Later that evening we found the PILE of hair all around her room. This was a Sunday. I was SICK to my stomach. Rebecca, who cuts our hair, was off on Monday but I called and begged and she made a special trip in to cut it Monday evening. Ellie is now sporting an ever-so-cute little wedge/bob cut. She pulls it off incredibly, but the first day she went to MDO, she wore a hat and wouldn't take it off. I think we are past that now, but occasionally she mentions how she wants long hair again.

Josh has now started middle school football and that has been a totally new experience. We have been so spoiled with such a great team with the Vikings that this year's change has been ... interesting. Not bad, really, just different. I suppose I don't do change well. We've had one scrimmage and another for Monday night before we open the season. I'll reserve judgment for a few weeks about how I think the team will do this year. I think it's too early to tell.

And, like the blink of an eye, summer passed and so did Josh's middle school years. Seems like it was yesterday he started middle school and now this will be his last year (8th grade). Don't blink, someone said. I get it.

We are all still dealing with the loss of my dad in January this year. Yes, I suppose it gets "easier" if you will, but it still hits hard sometimes and at the craziest moments. Today it was while I was clipping coupons and saw one for Efferdent. I used to pass those on to my mom for him.

I started my photography business this year, Maria Latham Photography, and am pleased with how it is coming along. It is one of the other reasons I needed to have small break -- to get some things done/caught up there. I am hopeful it will continue to grow because it is something I truly LOVE to do -- it is my passion. It is where I can experience creativity and get lost in myself and my work. It makes me happy and proud.

So, that's pretty much all that has gone on with us, I suppose. Somehow, life stays REALLY busy to just be this much. I joke and say that I didn't realize that I would have the "Hormone Trifecta" going on in my house -- a 13 year old going through puberty, a 3 year old asserting her drama/defiance/independence and a 40 (something!!) who has been hit with hot flashes that could take down the best of them. Life is ALWAYS interesting in our house. Is it hot in here to anyone else??

Easter 2011

2011-05-25T21:21:00.003-06:00

(This is a back post since I am so behind).

I spent a lot of time before Easter wondering how it would be. One of my favorite and most recent memories of my dad was from Easter last year. We had lunch at our house and then afterwards we had egg hunts for the kids and daddy went outside to fly kites with the kids. It was just a sweet day.

This year, Kevin's mom took us out to eat for Easter the weekend before Easter and mom took us out to eat on Easter. By the way, if you go to Red Lobster on Easter Sunday in the middle of a tornado warning, there will not be a wait to get a table. File that away for future reference.

It was a rainy kind of morning and I didn't get any really good photos of the kiddos before (or after) church.

The Easter bunny came and brought goodies to both Josh and Ellie. I love this little outfit Ellie was wearing. Her Aunt Rhonda got it for her and while it's not pjs, she likes to wear it as pjs. Check out the hair too!

Josh looks like he just rolled out of bed -- oh wait, he did!

When we got home, we had our annual egg hunt. We have separate hunts for Josh and for Ellie. Josh hides Ellies and this year we let Ellie help hide Josh's eggs.

Even though it is blurry, I love this picture of Ellie RUNNING down the hill toward an egg. She does everything with wild abandon!

Josh thought he was clever hiding Ellie's eggs in the back of her tricycle.

MeeMee helped Ellie find a few eggs.

Josh won't think the reporting of this is funny, but MAN, it was funny. While he was trying to find his eggs, he hit a muddy spot (from the rains earlier in the day) and his feet flew out from under him and down he went. I think we were all shocked and just stared at him for a bit before I managed to ask him if he was ok.

I love seeing smiles on his face -- they seem really rare these days.

And look at THIS face!! He's such a jokester sometimes.

In honor of Daddy, Josh and Kevin tried to fly Josh's new kite. They got it up once really well and then it crash landed.

Is it just me or am I too sheltered?

2011-05-25T20:10:00.004-06:00

Today I had to stop in a less than savory part of town to buy gas. I was so far down past "E" I was afraid I couldn't make it much further down the road, so I stopped at a station where I would not have normally stopped. I went in -- another thing I normally wouldn't do -- because I was thirsty and wanted to get some water.

As I was standing there waiting to pay, I glanced around at some of the "offerings" in the store. Keep in mind I had already passed a c*nd*m display on my way to the register. Then I saw the magazine stand. Of course, I was not nearly as shocked at the girly magazines as I was the one I saw on the bottom of the stand: The High Times. Again, I needed that video camera following me around as they watched the cogs in my head start to turn.

I am pretty sure that my mouth fell open as I stood there.

Cover story from this issue: Build Your Ultimate Grow Room. Really? No. Can't be, I think to myself.

I'm a little naive. I'm wondering (seriously) if this is a gardening magazine. I'm trying to see the photo on the cover to see what it is (it IS a plant after all; it might be broccoli or something).

Another heading confused me a little more: Grow Big Buds in Small Spaces. Ok, so this is a FLOWER magazine, right???

The bottom story title: Stoner Conservatives. I'm starting, at this point, to think it might not be a gardening magazine. I didn't DARE go pick it up because what if the police come in while I'm perusing The High Times. I resolve to go home and investigate more.

I leave the store wondering HOW in the WORLD they can be selling a magazine about m*riju*na in a CONVENIENCE STORE????? It's illegal to buy, sell and grow here so how can there be a magazine detailing how to do it. I ponder this the entire time I pump gas. And then, of course, it leaves me until I get home and bring it up with Kevin.

I came home and googled it to see if that was really what it was (still holding hope on the gardening angle). I told Kevin that should I die and they search my computer to PLEASE make sure he told them why I was googling this magazine. It is billed as the voice of the m*riju*na community. Seriously? Wow.

I am too sheltered, I think. I like it in my little bubble.

Cicada Drama

2011-05-24T21:34:00.004-06:00

I am SUCH a girl.

Cicadas have hit Middle Tennessee. For those of you who don't have a clue what a cicada is, here is a photo of one.

Mealy looking creatures aren't they? It's been thirteen years since they were in the Middle Tennessee area, and honestly, I don't really remember them. That's not surprising since I don't remember what I had for dinner last night either.

My understanding is they can number up to 1.5 million per acre. I saw or heard most of that 1.5 million today and the ones I didn't see or hear hit my windshield as I drove down the road. I could actually SEE piles of them dead on the interstate. Eewwwww... gross.

Cicadas live on tree roots underground for 13 years then crawl out, shedding their shells (which is what I've been crunching on as I've walked through yards the last week) and then this week they've begun to "sing" (the males' mating call). Overall, I suppose they are harmless, except ....

They might cause you to hurt yourself, or, oh, I don't know, jump out of your car with it still rolling ... or something. I'm just saying.

Today as I was driving to my next house, I noticed something (large) black on my white skirt. I immediately figured out it was a cicada. Now, surprisingly, I didn't scream or jump or anything. I reached over, grabbed my work camera and snapped a picture of it (thinking I might gross out Beth Collins with the picture). Turns out it was blurry. Oh well.

And then it moved.
And that's where things went south.

I could see the street I was turning on. I was running mental calculations at record speed to see if I thought I could get to that road and pull over before this MONSTER BUG climbed further up my skirt and might even start flying around my face.

I pulled in to the road just as bug-eyes made his move up my leg in rapid form. I jumped out of the car with GREAT intentions of flipping him off my skirt and then getting back in the car and going on. It was THEN I realized that I didn't put the car in park AND it was sitting on a hill. If the mental calculations were fast before, they were lightning speed at this point. I'm sure there was steam flying out of my ears as I jumped BACK in the car, putting on the brake, putting the car in park and jumping RIGHT BACK OUT as I saw that the darned cicada was still attached to my skirt and climbing his way back up.

I managed to get back out without letting him loose in the car, flicked him off, got back in the car and realized that if I had ONLY had a video camera handy, I could have been $10,000 richer because this HAD to have been a RIOT to watch.

I don't like cicadas.

New Look - Fresh Start

2011-05-18T21:30:00.002-06:00

I should be entering paperwork. I should be picking up all the little magnet letters all over the floor, including the one I just fished out of the recliner while looking for the remote. But my heart screams, "BLOG" so I am.

I miss my blog. I miss "thinking" in blog style. I miss being able to look back over the past months' entries and watching our lives.

I've missed a lot in the last several months, but it hasn't been any less full; if anything, it is due to the fullness of my life that I haven't had (didn't take) time to blog.

I think, in all honesty, I've attempted my best to deal with my dad's death by making myself astronomically busy. If I were busy before, I've become off the charts lately.

After spending several months not knowing quite what to do with myself, I decided it was time to get my photography business up and running and to put in the attention it deserved. To that end, I have launched my own business, Maria Latham Photography and have honestly been thoroughly enjoying it. Of course, I still have my primary job (insurance inspections), and my real job (mom), which takes up a wee bit of my time as well. But this has been something I feel passionate about.

Josh spent his first season playing soccer as a Sycamore Middle School Knight. It was nice to be back with some of the people we started out with in sports with Josh's early on soccer years. Since then, he has done spring training with the Knights football team. He is such a great football player. I love to see him do well on the field. I love to watch him play. Football is over (it was just a two week spring program) until fall training starts in July. Even before it was over, baseball practice started. We have our first game Saturday. Since it is 13/14 league, I think we will travel a bit more than we did in year's past.

Ellie has really come into her own in the last several months, especially since turning three. I think my last post was on the eve of her birthday and party. I will try to post some photos catching up on her birthday, Easter and a few other fun things we have done in the last few months. I can't get over how long her hair is finally getting and how beautiful it is. It has the most beautiful highlights and easy curl. She has really developed a mind of her own. She likes to pick out her own clothes most all the time. Her preference: tutus or ballerina clothes. I've tried to get her signed up for a dance class but have been hitting a dead end on all turns it seems. She is definitely going to be something artistic. She loves music, dancing, being dramatic and commanding attention of others. She has done so well in preschool this year, and tomorrow night is her preschool graduation/promotion ceremony. Her class is singing several songs -- should be fun!!

During the past several months, Kevin lost his job -- only to be rehired back by the same company. We aren't sure how long this will last, so he continues to look for another job that is more suited to his background and education as well as one that is closer to home.

So much more to write and report. I think I'll just update the blog with some new photos from our lives over the last few months.

Ellie's Birthday Party

2011-03-30T21:55:00.002-06:00

A Strawberry Shortcake Themed Party that was fit for a Princess!

Chef Ellie helped bake her birthday cake -- a strawberry cake made from scratch that was YUMMY. Does she look happy about this process or what??

And let me say that I won't EVER be quitting my job to go into cake decorating. I waited too late to get Kenya to do Ellie's birthday cake (she had a wedding) and so I decided I could make a fondant icing Strawberry Shortcake cake all by myself. What WAS I THINKING???

My mother in law, Mary, came for the party and helped the night before. It took two of us and we still didn't do a great job of putting the fondant on. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning trying to get the cake just right. You'll see the final result a little farther down the page.
Here is a sweet picture of Ellie with Aunt Jeanne.

The train table was a bit hit with all the kiddos.

This screams, "It's my party and I'll pout if I want to" doesn't it???

It was a riot watching these three boys all sitting in the floor glued to the Strawberry Shortcake movie.

This was one of the two tables of goodies we had to eat: cupcakes with strawberry filling, strawberry Crush soda, strawberry lemonade, chocolate covered pretzel sticks, sweet and sour meatballs, chili cheese dip, strawberry "whoopie pies", cake balls, spinach artichoke dip, BLT dip, peanut butter/jelly sandwiches (mini-shaped sized), and a veggie tray.

Ellie's BFF, Addie, was checking out one of Ellie's presents from Ava.

AND .... the previosly mentioned cake...

Crazy, that's all I can say. But, Ellie loved it, and that is all that mattered in the end. I mean, look at this face.

Blowing out three sweet candles.

Wonder if she wished for anything?

Ellie and Maverick are definitely cut from the same cloth -- go, go, go and play, play and play.

Katherine and Princess Ellie

"I'd like to phone a friend."

It was a lot of fun for Ellie!! She had great friends around to help her celebrate; she got so many wonderful presents AND she had cake. We had a great day celebrating this little one's life.

My facebook status the day before her birthday read:

Somewhere in Kyrgyzstan, it's already 3/29 and a mama is certainly thinking about a birth three years ago. I hope, in her heart, she can somehow know how VERY MUCH I love this child, what a wonderful life she has and what a blessed gift she was to our family. I wish I could tell her.

I'll leave you with a funny quote from Ellie from the day before her birthday:

"Pink is not my favorite color anymore." Ellie

"Really? What is your favorite color?" Me

"SPARKLES" Ellie

Her new nickname? Sparkles Latham

Ahh... the life of a girl who likes sparkles.

March is coming to an end

2011-03-28T21:31:00.004-06:00

Bi-monthly updates seems to be about all I can swing these days. My heart is willing -- my energy is weak. It is the eve of Ellie's third birthday and I'm feeling all emotional and nostalgic and sad and blessed -- all rolled up and smushed together like Ellie's Play-Doh at the end of the day. I wrote the following comment on Facebook tonight: Somewhere in Kyrgyzstan, it's already 3/29 and a mama is certainly thinking about a birth three years ago. I hope, in her heart, she can somehow know how VERY MUCH I love this child, what a wonderful life she has and what a blessed gift she was to our family. I wish I could tell her. I am so thankful that I am the woman who was blessed to get to mother Ellie. I am sad that her birthmother lost that opportunity. Today as we had a picnic on the floor -- nothing fancy, some sandwiches and veggies with a juice pouch -- Ellie came over, sat in my lap and said, "This is the best picnic ever mama." My heart melted. When I made a (less than stellar) birthday cake for her this weekend, she looked at it and said, "Good job, mama!" What a blessing! Don't get me wrong; it's not all smiles and candy hearts at our house. We are normal and some days I don't think I'll make it through until bedtime with her cranky little (now) three-year-old self. But I would trade the beautiful moments for all those cranky moments AT ALL. I just wish that the beautiful moments of adoption weren't tinged with the heartbreaking parts of it. Today I heard Ellie talking to herself in the backseat as we were on the way to her three-year-old check up at the doctor. She was saying, "I am from Kyrgyzstan and my friend is from China and my other friend is from America." In her world, it's just how it is. How beautiful. Oh, that we could all see things that way. Anyway ... We had her birthday party this weekend and it was a LOT of fun. A future post will be dedicated to just that as it will take an entire post. Josh continue to play Xbox (all the time it seems) and soccer. I feel like I somehow have lost him to his room and this new solitary/I want to play with my friends life. I spoke with the doctor about it today and he said that at this age withdrawal from family is normal and that we just have to continue to promote that family time while allowing him some independence. It stinks, honestly, because I MISS HIM. I miss watching TV with him, just having him in the room. I hope this phase doesn't last long. If it does, just don't tell me and let me be ignorant -- it's bliss, I hear. Kevin's last day of work is this week. We are prayerful that something comes along quickly. God was gracious the last time this happened and provided for us just in time. I have faith that He will again. It's been a hard year, though. I wouldn't be lying if I didn't say it hasn't. A part of me spends more time than I should wondering WHY things have happened to us this year. A part of my healing, I suppose, is learning to trust the verse that tells me that His ways are not mine. I can say it all day long but actually putting it my heart and wearing it like a cloak over me is another story. That is where I'm struggling and working. I'm glad that my daddy doesn't have these earthly struggles any more and that he has been made perfect, in the image of his Savior. Some days that is enough. No pictures today because I'm saving those for the birthday party post. I do have some really cool pictures of Ellie and her friends A. and K. that I'll post soon that I took it a buttercup field. They are stunning (not because I took them, just because they are!!). I'll post those in the next post as well. For now, I'm sleepy and headed off to bed.

What's Going On ...

2011-03-13T08:58:00.004-06:00

I have certainly been a blog slacker for quite a while now. I'm not making any promises that it will get better because it probably won't. But, I did want to capture some updates on our lives.

I continue to struggle with the loss of my dad. Some days are really good and others make up for my having a good one. Last night I was looking back through the pictures we took at Christmas and I literally felt so sick to my stomach with longing that I thought I was going to become ill. He was so alive and here that the loss just seems so much worse. I know my mom continues to struggle much worse than I do because she has lost her best friend and partner of 48 years of marriage. I can't imagine what she goes through each day. I just try to be there as much as I can.

The kids are keeping me busy, though, and that helps a lot. Josh has started soccer for the middle school and they have had a couple of games so far. Most games have been rained out with all the lovely rain storms we have had this spring.

I, personally, have been blessed that there is a mom who takes pictures at the soccer games and I don't have to!! Yay -- this is certainly a treat for me to actually get to watch the game instead of photographing it. I did take my camera to the first game and got a few nice ones of Josh. Since this is his first year, he doesn't play a lot, but he did get to play keeper during one game and I know he has always enjoyed that position from when he played when he was young.

I have spent a large part of March getting ready for and working at consignment sales. I am on my last couple of days to work and then I can (thankfully!) put that project to bed until fall! It's a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a great way to save money buying Ellie's spring clothes. I've gotten some really, really cute things for spring. If you are interested in seeing some of the things I've picked up at consignment, click the link here to see pictures.

I am amazed at how much I save at consignment and how nicely Ellie can be dressed. I can buy Gymboree outfits for $5-$8. If I were to go to Walmart and buy Garanimals, they would be $3.50 per piece and would fade/shrink after the first wash. With Gymboree, I can let Ellie wear it a season and STILL sell it in consignment for almost what I paid for it. It's amazing. I can't imagine why anyone would pay retail for kids' clothes!

I had a great find at the Once Around the Block Kids' consignment sale: a mom with a daughter named Ellie who was one year ahead of us!! She had monogrammed "Ellie" on a TON of cute stuff that we picked up for such a steal. Monogramming it would have cost anywhere from $5-$8 per item: pretty much what I paid for the item already monogramed. Amazing -- and such a blessing! Here are two of the items:

Ellie SLEPT in her bathing suit for two nights because she loved it so much. She has been very excited over all her new things from consignment this year.

One of my favorite finds this year at consignment was a toddler bounce house for $15 -- yes, $15. I don't have a clue what they might cost in retail world, but Ellie got $15 worth of fun out of it on day one! Her hair was WILD and crazy and cracked me up standing straight out!

I think you can actually SEE the sparks on the ends of her hair on this one - haha!

While I was snapping Ellie in her bounce house, Josh and Bear were having some "boy and his dog" time. They SO love each other!

A couple of other good finds were Ellie's birthday presents this year: A Disney Princess Deluxe Talking kitchen, NEW in the box (retails for $70), for $35. And, a Disney Princess Tea Time With Me Little Belle for $10. It's also new in the box. Apparently, you cannot FIND this toy anymore. The one I found via Google retails for $89.95 -- not that I would have EVER paid that for it!

Kevin got word last week that his branch office is closing at the end of the month and that he will be out of a job. Since we JUST went through this 16 months ago, we are sort of reeling that we are here again. I know everyone keeps talking about how the economy is on the upswing, but at the Latham house, it certainly isn't. So, Kevin has begun the process of looking for a job again. He has sent resumes out by the dozens and has begun the testing process for a job locally. We continue to pray that God is using this as a way to bless our family with a new, closer to home, job for Kevin. With gas prices on the rise, driving to a job that is 95 miles one way is a costly proposition. 2011 certainly has not been the year I had hoped it would be.

Ellie's birthday is coming up in a few weeks. She has been saying, "I'll be three in March FOREVER!!" She is looking forward to her party so much. We have decided to have it at the house this year (in the face of the impending layoffs, we are going for low cost, high fun!) and have decided on a Strawberry Shortcake theme. Stay tuned for more details about this fun day!!
I am excited that I have a wedding to photograph next weekend. I'm looking forward to spring and getting back into photography. Next week is spring break and I have a couple of photo ideas I want to try out on Ellie (and Josh if he is feeling cooperative that day).

Ellie continues to become more girly-girl every day. Her hair is getting longer and she likes to sit on the bathroom sink and let me blow it out and then put curls in it with the curling iron. She also tells me to "Do my eyes, mama." She honestly thinks that when I brush her eyes with the makeup brush that I'm putting on eye shadow. So funny!! She is developing right on target and we haven't noticed any delays. We are so blessed to have her in our lives and anytime I am feeling like, "Woe is me" with all the funk that's going on, I am reminded of the miracle of Ellie's entering our family and I know that God can work out anything -- even when we don't think it is possible.

Josh will start baseball soon -- in addition to soccer -- and I imagine we will be a busy, busy family once again. In some ways it's preferable -- it keeps my mind busy. It other ways, I relish the ability to just stay home and rest. Catch 22, I suppose.

Spring break is this week and we have absolutely NO plans -- wow, that's a blessing, I think. Josh is going to help MeeMee in her yard quite a bit so we are hopeful for pretty weather. I'm going to visit the site for my wedding this weekend to scout out locations/ideas for pictures. I want to go visit my grandmother and also to take some three year old pix of Ellie. I'd like to take the two of them to their FAVORITE place to play (even though it's not necessarily MY favorite), Chuck E Cheese. I'm sure the week will pass too quickly and it will be back to school and routine again.

That's pretty much it for our lives right now! Hope to find the time to write again soon!

The Wrights Visit Nashville

2011-02-26T22:01:00.002-06:00

Our (very small) Kyrgyz community had the blessing of having John, Julie, Bekah and Emma Wright to visit this week to share stories of life in Kyrgyzstan as well as their work there. It was such a blessing to get to see them as we had not seen them since our first trip to Kyrgyzstan in June 2008.

We met at the Howell's church for dinner and play time for the kiddos and the Wright's presentation. There were four sweet kiddos present from Kyrgyzstan, two sweet kiddos from China and one sweet kiddo from Russia. It was such a fun night.

We were so happy to have Allison, Hotdog and Pudding to come visit and spend the night too. Ellie can never get enough of her two friends!

The next morning we had a nice brunch at Cracker Barrel and then got to visit a little more with the Wrights at the Howell's home.

STAY TUNED for a new cool venture I've agreed to help the Wrights with that include two of my favorite things: shopping and Kyrgyzstan!!

In the meantime, here are some GREAT, FUN photos of our adventures!

Kat was the "opening act":

Followed by John:

John & Julie sharing information:

Julie brought some COOL hats that the kiddos had a great time trying on:

We had the GREAT idea of taking photos of the kids with the Wrights. It was a combination of trying to herd cats and nail Jello to the wall -- unsuccessful in all areas!

This was my favorite photo of the night!

Although I'm really fond of this one too!

Josh had more fun than should have been allowed!

But it seems like Allison and group were having the most laughs!

We have decided to take lots of pictures of Ellie and Pudding together because then when they grow up and get married we will have plenty of pictures to put up at the reception. I have never seen two kids more alike in so many ways. It's frightning!

After we got home, Ellie REALLY wanted to play dress up, but it had to wait until the next morning:

Hotdog and Ellie in their "reverse" matching outfits.

This is Ellie "hugging" Hotdog. HA!

We tried REALLY hard to get a photo of the three of them -- this is the best I came up with. BOY three two-year-olds are hard to get a photo of!

They were all rewarded for their hard work by getting suckers!

Dentist and Hair Cuts

2011-02-25T11:25:00.002-06:00

It was a big day Wednesday! We had dentist appointments and hair cut appointments and THEN we were going to get together with our Kyrgyz friends to meet John, Julie, Bekah and Emma Wright for a fun night.

Ellie has been to the dentist before but I haven't gotten any photos. She was a "big girl" and sat up in the chair but was not really happy about opening her mouth for Dr. Higgs.

Ellie got a balloon for being good!

Josh, however, is an old pro and did great at getting his teeth cleaned. Next week he gets braces -- wow!!

Then Ellie got her second (ever) hair cut. I dare not even call it a cut because it was just trimming up the ends and evening it out all over. I SO wish her hair would grow! At least she's a cute little bug with short hair!

My two little loves ...

2011-02-14T11:17:00.003-06:00

My two little loves got a special Valentine donut for breakfast this morning. One looked like she was barely functioning as she piled up on the couch with ALL her blankies and was watching Barney.

The other little love couldn't even get his eyes open to look at the donut. Later in the morning he asked me, "When is Valentine's?" Uh -- today, that's why you got the Valentine's donut in bed. :-)

In The Spirit Of...

2011-02-13T20:50:00.003-06:00

In the spirit of celebrating Valentine's I wanted to share a few cutie photos of Ellie that I snapped the other day. I'd love to share some cutie photos of Josh, but I'd have to ply his hands from the off the Xbox controller and drag him from his room. It didn't quite seem worth the fight. :-) Love that boy, though!! You'll soon start seeing lots more of him as he starts soccer this week!

I hope everyone will remember to show some love to those who are important to you! Even more importantly, show some random love to someone you don't know, who you don't think deserves it or who desperately needs it.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Grief

2011-02-12T23:06:00.000-06:00

Saturday evening: I started the post below two weeks ago and left it sitting. I now feel "up" to finishing it.

*****

Webster defines grief as a deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement. Bereavement is further defined as the state or fact of being bereaved or deprived of something or someone, especially the loss of a loved one by death. An example is a period of grief after bereavement.

A "period" of grief.

Can anyone define what that period is? I'm told it's "different for everyone".

I found a website called the Centre for the Grief Journey. I like the term journey -- it makes it sound less like something you HAVE to do and more like something that might have a pleasant outcome.

I don't foresee my grief having a pleasant outcome, but I would certainly like to come out from it. The website indicates that the way out of grief is to go through it I'm reminded of the words of David who wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me." I wonder if David wrote that after having lost someone special (I'll research that one later). I used to think it was about preparing for death and not being afraid. Now, re-reading it, I'm not so sure.

Another point made in the article I was reading was that Grief is Hard Work. Really? And, I don't mean to be smart in that statement. It's just so shocking how hard it really is to work through feelings you never have had and don't know exactly what to do with. I find myself extremely tired -- after having done nothing of worth all day. One of the statements from this article indicates that this may be compouded by other people's expectations that we "pull ourselves together" or to "get on with life." Especially when we all grieve differently.

Today I told my friend Susan that I thought I would have been "over" this by now. Not that I will ever truly be "over" it, but I thought I'd be pretty much back together and moving along with life after three weeks. She reminded me that you don't love someone as deeply and as long as I did my daddy and get over it right away. The article from this site indicates that your grief will take longer than most people think.

The paragraph that is written from this article that states that grief is unpredictable is certainly on target. I think I'm good one day and then the next day I feel melancholy, empty, lack a sense of direction or have the strangest dreams or thoughts. Apparently, it is very much part of the process and will eventually lead toward healing.

The emotions involved in grief ride like a roller-coaster. Some of the emotions include numbness, shock, confusion, disbelief, anxiety, absent-mindedness, restlessness, fatigue, sleep disorders and depression. I think I have covered every single one of them in the last three weeks.

***

And now it's been a month -- on Thursday it was a month since my daddy died. The actual "month" day was not such a hard day. The actual month of living was super hard. Added on top of that month of grief has been the subsequent sickness of Ellie who developed pneumonia, me who developed a serious case of bronchitis, my grandmother who ended up in the hospital and you start to see the picture of my life.

Yesterday was a really hard day. I can never figure what it is that triggers these days. It has snowed a lot here and we've been inside a lot. The kids have missed a lot of school. The days aren't exactly filled with glee. But Friday I went out to work and the sun was shining and I had a full day to myself with no worries other than to work.

And, for the first time in a long, long, long time, I hated my job. I hated working. I counted the hours. Each minute seemed an hour long. There was WAY too much time in the car for thinking. I felt absolutely lost with my own self. The day and thoughts wandered into how my children's lives will be different without their DeeDee. I realized, consciously, I suppose, for the first time that they will no longer have any older male, grandfather figures in their lives. Who will be that older man who represents unconditional love for them, who pesters them, who teaches them to play checkers or to fish, who has TIME for them? Who can fill that void? I know lots of people don't have those people in their lives, but I'm feeling a bit self-centered and selfish and only care about my kids and their loss. I am going to allow myself to feel that way. There was so much more TIME that they needed from him, so much more LOVE that wasn't finished yet. It just seems WRONG.

And, no, I'm not questioning God. This isn't about God for me. I don't feel God has wronged me or us I just am so sad and empty that I don't get it. And, I'm selfish. I am H.U.M.A.N. It's a hard thing to be.

I think I'm also depressed. There. That's out there. I'm having trouble "picking myself up" by those proverbial "bootstraps" to get back up on that pony and ride. Things that normally would excite me or interest me -- don't. I can't seem to dig up anything that will make me really happy. I go through the motions of the day, but I don't really care. I'm not depressed in a bad sense, just an apathetic sense and I absolutely HATE IT. I don't want to be this way. I want my "real" life back. I don't want to feel so many feelings.

I suppose to look at me, from the outside, I seem to be handling it all rather well. I'm sure folks typically think the same of others who grieve. But, inside, my heart still breaks frequently.

Today I spent the day with my mom helping her get things ready for the consignment sale that I do. It was a nice day and we got lots of things cleared out and ready to donate and ready for consignment. Afterwards, we met up with Kevin's mom and did our family Valentine's dinner.

And it was not the same.

It wasn't bad. Don't get me wrong. There was just someone missing. It was the "new normal". I don't want a new normal. And I have no control over that.

After dinner, we took a flower arrangement by the graveside and cleared it off from the flowers that had died from the funeral. It stunk. That's the best way I can describe it. Yes, I KNOW my father isn't there, but his body is. The hands that held mine and rubbed my back to put me to sleep are in that ground. The lips that kissed me goodnight for years, they are there. The arm that hooked into mine and walked me down the aisle -- there. The arms that held my babies as they entered our lives -- right there. NOT HERE WITH US. Stinking wrong.

So, I guess I'm progressing normally. Whatever the heck that is. None to worry when I feel like I'm moving along too quickly or have moved past it or didn't grieve enough. I don't have to worry because another day or two and it will hit like a ton of bricks and I'm literally begging God to lift that day from me and give me a better one the next day.

It is through this process that God will prepare me for the next thing He has in my life -- whatever it is. It is all building blocks. I heard a line in a song today that took on an entirely new meaning, "He would rather die -- than to ever live without me." I can fully understand the love Jesus Christ had on the cross to take on our sin. He could not imagine eternity without me. The same kind of love I have for my earthly father is magnified 10,000 times by my heavenly father. I would have died so that my father and I would never be separated (eternally speaking). I know he would have for me as well. That is the gift of love that Jesus offers -- an opportunity to never live without us. Most days it is all that gets me through -- it is the hope that I'm unable to muster myself. It is the promise that tomorrow WILL be better.

I heard one other song on the radio on Friday. It was as if God had LITERALLY written the song and had the group sing it DIRECTLY to me in the car. Here are the lyrics.

"I Won't Let Go" - Rascal Flatts

It’s like a storm
That cuts a path
It breaks your will
It feels like that

You think your lost
But your not lost on your own
Your not alone
I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
If you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go

It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it’s dark
This part of life
Oh it finds us all
And we’re too small
To stop the rain
Oh but when it rains

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight

And I won't let you fall
Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you
I wont let you down
It wont get you down
You're gonna make it
Yea I know you can make it

Cause I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
And I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go
Oh I’m gonna hold you
And I won't let go
Wont let you go
No I won't.

Here's the group performing on Letterman. While it's written, I'm sure, as a love song, it was a love song from God for me. I know He is my hope. I need Him to help me find my way back to a happy place.

Ellie's Closet - Virtual Consignment Sale is OPEN!!

2011-02-01T09:00:00.002-06:00

For those who have asked if they can pre-shop the things I take to consignment, I have gotten all of Ellie's things uploaded to a virtual consignment and priced all the items. It is now OPEN to shop. I have approximately a week to leave it open before I'll need to start tagging items for sale. Of course, I'd love to pre-sell in all and not have to tag at all! :-)

Click on each photo to get description and price. Email me a list of the items you'd like to buy. If you are local, I'll deliver. Otherwise, I will ship and just add the cost of shipping to your total. Paypal is acceptable if you are out of town.

Items are sold first come/first served and I will mark them SOLD as soon as I get your email. We are a non-smoking home. Items have no stains that I've seen and I look carefully and pull those items. Shoes might have some scuffs, but that is described in the description and shown in the photo.

Enjoy shopping! The link to the site is HERE.

Virtual Consignment - Coming Soon

2011-01-29T16:00:00.002-06:00

Each season I take on a serious undertaking of consigning and working at three different local sales. This season, between February 12 - March 12, Kevin, Josh and I (yes, they help out - yay!) will work a total of 67 hours at three different consignment sales. For that effort, I will shop first at all three sales (thereby getting the best deals/clothes), will earn a higher percentage of my sales at one of the sales and a $50 credit at two of the sales. AND, I will get to see some of my FAVORITE people and renew friendships with people I only get to see a couple times a year. So, while it sounds like a lot of work, it's not. I get to "trade" Ellie's last season's spring/summer clothes for a new set and usually end up only paying a little out of pocket when it's all said and done. If you haven't considered it before -- look into it. It's definitely worth the energy.

So this weekend I've gotten out Ellie's last spring/summer clothes and am going about the process of checking for stains, washing, ironing, hanging, matching up outfits, etc. Prior to putting the first batch in the first sale, I like to do a "virtual" consignment for friends whose kiddos might be a little younger than Ellie and want to get some good deals on some nice clothes.

To that end, in the next day or two, I will post a link on this site with a Picasa photo album that has Ellie's clothes along with descriptions/photos/prices. If you are interested, I will have clothes ranging in size from 6 months - 24 months. The largest majority are 18 months.

I hope you stop back and find some goodies.

For those interested in the sales I'll be working and shopping this spring, they are:

Encores and More
Once Around the Block Kids
Encores and More North

Click on them to go to their websites. Come join me as a consignnor, worker or a shopper!

This is "For the Birds" - Snowing Again

2011-01-26T19:44:00.002-06:00

We had a beautiful snow last night -- accumulating somewhere around 3"-4" of wet, heavy snow. I woke up and it was so beautiful. For the first time, our evergreen out front was literally laden with snow, it's boughs weighted down under blankets of snow.

The day before I had put out a few new bird feeders and I was SO excited to see all the birds that were hanging out on our side deck. My camera broke a while back and I haven't taken the time to get it fixed, so my "snappy" instant camera and I went to work trying hard to capture some pictures of the beautiful birds that were hanging out on the other side of the doors.

I loved my cardinals from today!

The little "snuggle birds" (don't they look like you could just snuggle them in your hands?) were adorable too!

And I love how this guy has snow all over his beak from digging out seed from the snow.

It was a nice morning. The cats even had a good time, chirping and "talking" to the birds.

Doesn't he look pitiful (aka hungry)?

God's beauty is majestic!

It Hits at the Strangest Time

2011-01-26T18:06:00.009-06:00

Today we decided to sort through these one million toys that have collected in our house over the last few months and to get them organized and see if there are any that are ready to find a new home through consignment.

As I was sorting through all of Ellie's dress-up costumes, I realized her cardboard box was starting to come apart. I thought, "It would be really cool to have a wooden box to put her dress up clothes in so it wouldn't tear up." Then it hit me that I couldn't call my daddy and ask him to make her one. And he would have. He would have loved to do that. And my heart hurt and that lurch in my stomach hit again. It's just a feeling aI can't make go away when it comes

I suppose since I was "on the subject", it made seeing the shoe box that Kevin's Christmas present had come in really hard too -- because that was the last time I spent with my daddy.

The strangest things make it hard -- a shoe box and dress up clothes. Things you would never think. I can't imagine how very hard it is for my mama.

Winter is certainly a hard time to grieve, I think. If it were warm; if we were really busy ... maybe then it wouldn't be so hard. There wouldn't be so much free time to think. But, then, I suppose it would only prolong the process.

But, on a plus note, the toys are getting organized.

It's Not Goodbye -- It's See You Later

2011-01-24T17:09:00.005-06:00

Kevin asked last night if I was going to write on my blog. I told him I might not ever write in it again. But then I decided that there are still stories to be told and that this one is probably one of the most important ones in my life. And so I will try.

***

I started 2011 with this post on Facebook:

SO looking forward to 2011. My heart says it's going to be a year of great change for our family and I'm really looking forward to it. Our family motto for the year: REVIVAL: (thanks, Jackie!) Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Financial. Bring on a NEW YEAR!!

In my heart I felt God had something really big planned for our family this year (of course, in my mind it was a new job for Kevin, a new school for Josh, or something along those lines). I had decided this would be the year I would work to become closer to God, lose weight by taking better care of myself physically and emotionally and for us to make better financial choices in our lives -- our REVIVAL year.

Then January 10 happened and in the space of a few hours my life changed forever -- as did the lives of my mother, husband and children.

I was in Lexington, KY doing some commercial inspections. I had called home to talk to Kevin about the impending snow storm forecasted for the next morning in Lexington. We had already gotten a large snow storm at home and the kids were out of school. Kevin's mom had come to help take care of the kids and Kevin as just one week earlier, he had been in the ER diagnosed with a kidney stone and was still suffering pain from trying to pass it.

Kevin asked if I could just come home and reschedule them later. I told him that was a lot of time and gas and hotel fees to pay for me to come home and then have to come back and that I thought I could probably do them. I had no clue where he was or what he was doing -- until an hour later.

My phone rang at a little before 11 (a little before midnight there). I was still awake but just about to go to bed. Kevin told me he had hated to keep it from me but they had taken my dad to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing and he was currently in the trauma unit. My mom had asked him to wait to call until they knew what they were dealing with. No one had a clue what we were about to be dealing with. As I type this, the pain is as fresh as it was that night.

While I was talking to her on the phone getting details, someone came and told her they were having to start CPR on him. WHAT? The next hour is both a blur and vivid beyond belief. I spent time listening to the goings-on in a hospital room some four hours away and simultaneously BEGGING God to let my father live. It was surreal.

This COULD. NOT. BE. HAPPENING.

Before I left, he had come home early from work on Thursday and Friday saying he didn't feel well. Based on his symptoms, mom thought he might have pneumonia again, but stubborn man that he was, he said he didn't need to go to the doctor. With Monday's snow, he stayed home from work anyway. Mom tried to get him to go to the doctor that day as well and even said she was going to call 911 once prior to actually doing it. He said he was feeling better and went to bed before he had the incident that led her to call for an ambulance.

My father went home to be with Jesus on January 11 at 11:45 pm while I was on the phone in a hotel room in Lexington, KY and while my mother and husband stood by watching his departure. It was a massive heart attack. The ER staff did CPR and everything else they could do to revive him -- for over an hour. It was his appointed time. (Psalms 139:16 - All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.")

And my life was changed forever.

I made the four hour drive home and went home with mama. We went through the rituals of preparing for a funeral, attending visitation, having a memorial service and a graveside military service. We went home afterwards. We have cried, grieved and written thank you notes.

But so much more has occurred in between. I don't have the words to write them all. God has held us both.

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
"Held" by Natalie Grant

His hands have captured all our tears.

When grief has left you low it causes tears to flow
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned
But God won't forget you His promises are true
And tears are a language God understands.
"Tears are a Language God Understands"

But it is a process like nothing I have ever experienced before. I am a changed person with the loss of my daddy. His absence, even though it might be weeks between seeing or talking to him, has left a huge void in my life.

Some days seem normal and then it hits out of the blue: the thoughts that he won't see my children grow up, he won't be there to help them along the way. He won't be there to share the "golden years" with my mom. All the holidays that we always shared together as a family, he will be missing from the table. I won't have him piping up in the background as I talk to my mom on the phone. I won't walk into Home Depot and find him standing behind his desk. I won't need to go over and fix his computer or printer again. I can't tag photos of the grandkids to his Facebook page. So many things changed in an instant.

I'm reading a book, "What Happens When we Die?". I have several more in the pile to read. My eternal perspective has changed. While I knew that I had accepted the gift of salvation years ago by agreeing that Jesus Christ died on the cross instead of me for my sins, I now know of heaven as a real place where my daddy lives.

I wonder how long, if ever, it will take before he is not the very first thing I think of when I wake up each day. I wonder when the feeling will stop that my stomach has flipped over at random times throughout the day. It may be forever. I don't know. I've never experienced this before. I could have lived happily having never experienced it.

We've uploaded photos of my dad to an album on Facebook to share with friends and family of some of the fun times we had with him while he was alive. It was nice remembering. I hope that one day, it will just be nice remembering. I suspect there will always be the hole in our lives until we are reunited one day in heaven.

This photo was taken in October when we were celebrating his birthday and Ellie's Homecoming Day, which were only three days apart.

My heart hurts.

Christmas at MeeMee and DeeDee's House

2010-12-30T23:50:00.002-06:00

Every year, we celebrate Christmas with my parents on Christmas Eve at their house. My mom cooks and then we open presents. When I was a child, we celebrated Christmas Eve at Granny and Grandaddy's house (my dad's parents), so I know that celebrating Christmas Eve at the grandparent's house is a wonderful memory that my kids will keep with them for the rest of their lives.

This year, Nana joined us for Christmas and was along to celebrate.

Ellie got to open the first present: a Dora the Explorer plate and cup set so we could wash it and she could eat her dinner out of it.

There is a story about Kevin and his "platter", but you'll have to ask him about it. *smile*

This year was Ellie's year to wear us into the ground wanting to open presents. She's not a big eater anyway, and three bites in and she was READY to open presents. Of course, the rule is we don't open presents until dinner is over. I thought she might pop before she got to open a present!

Here are Nana and Ellie waiting to open presents.

Josh got the big present of the year (although none of us did badly!!) with a 32" television for his room.

Ellie got so many toys we couldn't keep up with it all.

Josh even helped put together some of her things:

DeeDee got his annual pair of slippers:

Sorry, apparently no pictures of MeeMee or me this year. *smile*

Christmas Day - 2010

2010-12-28T00:08:00.003-06:00

Stay tuned for stories and pictures from our Christmas Day!

Christmas 2010 - At MeeMee and DeeDee's

2010-12-28T00:08:00.001-06:00

Stay tuned for photos and updates!

Ellie's Preschool Christmas Pageant

2010-12-27T23:46:00.004-06:00

How did that whole Christmas event slip by so quickly and I didn't manage to capture one bit of it in words?

I'll try to make it all up here.

I had a great "plan of action" whereby I had each day planned right down to the time Ellie and Josh got out of school. Then the bad weather came and shot that right out of the water.

Ellie's preschool did manage to make it back to school long enough to have their pageant. It was SO SWEET. Her class was angels. And, of course, there was drama with me. My camera broke several weeks ago and I haven't taken the time to send it in for repair. BUT, I asked my mom to bring hers so I wasn't concerned. I called her as I was pulling in to the church to see where she was and she was "clocking down" and stopping at the post office. All of a sudden she uttered, "Oh No! I've locked my keys in the car!" Lots of phone calls were sent around trying to find someone to unlock her car as it was freezing cold. Finally, a local fire fighter called someone and they got it unlocked. She called to tell me she was on her way and the pageant was already over. We were both just broken-hearted about it.

Ellie, however, did a great job!! She came out on stage and I could tell she was nervous as she was laying over on the arm of one of her classmates. Josh and I were sitting a few rows back and I was waving, trying to let her see us. When she did, her face just lit up (it was SO sweet) and she waved and then pointed out to us and loudly told her friend, "THERE'S MY BUBBA!" Josh's face lit up too -- you could tell it made him proud.

I did manage to snap a few (really bad quality) phone photos of Ellie. I have another mom in the class who told me she got several of Ellie, so I'm waiting to get those (maybe when we get back to school).

Posing in her classroom after the event!

Adorable angel!

It was a sweet pageant, re-creating the birth of Jesus and with the kids singing some really sweet songs. What a blessing this little ones were!! And, I'd be remiss to not admit that I thought my sweetie was the cutest one there!! :-)

"Got it?"

2010-12-21T12:41:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was a hard day for Ellie (and her mama and her brother). She has fallen head-first into the "terrible" part of the terrible two's and has developed a really nasty little streak. Any time a nap or bedtime is mentioned she screams, "I NOT DO IT!!!" Many nights she is carried upstairs and put in the bed and cries the entire time, "I NO DO IT!!!".

Yesterday she "not" take a nap and I didn't feel like fighting her on it -- so we skipped nap. I paid for THAT decision later.

Josh slept in and then went to a friends house to play video games. John came back with him and they played video games in Josh's room for a while and then, about 4:30, we saw the first of Josh for the day. Ellie, who asked about him, ALL DAY, was pretty tired and put out at that point and was absolutely cranky.

She told me, at one point, that she wanted a snack. It was pretty close to dinner, so I was pondering what to make her and decided on some peaches. As I was getting them ready, she rounded the corner and said, "I SAID I WANT A SNACK - GOT IT?" I whipped my head around, certain I had misunderstood what she said and said, "What did you say?" and she repeated it. UGH. Needless to say, a conversation ensued about how to ask for a snack nicely and how that was ugly.

After her snack, she proceeded to start fighting with Josh about everything. She hit him with anything she could put her hands on (her broom, doll, hands). She ended up in permanent time out because everytime I put her in it and went back to cooking dinner, she was up and beating on him again. FINALLY, her daddy got home and I had some reinforcements to help out!! She was just a pistol all evening, fell asleep at 6:30, back up at 7:30 and back down again at 10:00.

I've decided she needs an opportunity to burn more energy as she is used to pre-school and play time. Today she is going to "Donalds" (ie., McDonalds) to the play land to play hard so she will nap!!

After long conversations about how God, mama, daddy, Joshua and Santa don't like hitting, her first words out of her mouth this morning were, "I not hit Bubba anymore." Time will tell!!

First Snow

2010-12-13T10:18:00.000-06:00

It was an early first snow this year, coming December 12 and causing the kiddos to miss three days of school during the last week of school. It wasn't much (especially by Northern standards), but in the South, a dusting causes a complete shut-down. The kiddos were all about playing outside, but it was FREEZING cold at 17* with some serious wind factoring in. There was some snow angels, sledding and the dog had a GREAT time. Ellie wasn't much on sitting on a sled; she just scooted down the hills on her bottom.

All-Star

2010-12-11T23:37:00.002-06:00

This year was a first for Middle Tennessee Junior Football -- an all-star east and west team playing in a bowl game. Josh was one of several from his team chosen to play on the all-stars team on December 11 at MBA in Nashville.

It was RAINING cats and dogs (didn't we JUST do that in Owensboro a few weeks ago???) and cold to boot. I can't imagine how hard it was to play football on a field that looked like this:

This was the view from our seats -- umbrellas everywhere. The west division (Josh's) won with a final score of 25 - 0. It was a nice win, but sitting out in the cold and rain wasn't a lot of fun! And now, Vikings football is truly over (and I can have my life back!).

Christmas with Grandmother

2010-12-11T10:08:00.001-06:00

One of the things that has been MOST frustrating lately is the fact that my GOOD camera is broken. I have had (taken) the time to call and send it in for repair so I'm stuck with a snappy digital. FRUSTRATING. Anyway, I digress.

Saturday morning was Christmas with Santa at Grandmother's nursing home. We all went over for breakfast, took Grandmother's gifts and got to see Santa (which really excited Ellie who got to remind him about her "Barbie toys!").

MeeMee takes Ellie to see Santa:

This girl LOVES her some Santa:

Why exactly is NO ONE looking at the camera?

Since my camera is kaplut, I don't have any more pictures from the day. Apparently, if I can stick the camera in my pocket I forget to take pictures until the event is almost over. *sigh*

Here are a few pictures of Ellie in front of our tree before church the next day.

This girl is SO sassy!

Christmas Decorating

2010-12-10T23:43:00.001-06:00

Although we were several weeks late in Christmas decorating (we normally do it Thanksgiving weekend), we finally managed to get out all our decorations and get to work. Unlike last year, Ellie was ALL in the mix this year. She was fascinated with all the Christmas ornaments and decorations. Everything is new and fun to her this year. We watched our annual traditional movie while we decorated: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Still my favorite ever. And even though they complain for weeks in advance that they have to watch it, Kevin and Josh were glued to the television as well!

I thought it would be really cool to have a live tree this year since it was Ellie's first Christmas to really be active and participate. THEN I remembered that I am apparently highly allergic to pine. And so, we continue to have a"fake" tree -- I think the "PC" name for them is artificial. But we like it well enough and it serves the purpose to hold the ornaments, which are my favorite part of the tree. I love looking back over all the ornaments from year's past and associating the memories to those.

Later that night, as I was putting Ellie to bed, we read her book, "The Christmas Story". When I asked her who the baby was in the manger, she threw her hand up and said, "ME!". I gently explained to her that it was Baby Jesus. Then we talked about the wise men and asked who they were bringing presents for. She waved her hand in the air and said, "ME!" All Ellie, all the time. Funny girl!!

Opening the tree box:

Putting together the tree:

Happy faces!!

Everyone LOVES wearing tinsel!

Putting the angel on the tree:

Pleasant View Parade and Santa Visit

2010-12-04T09:50:00.000-06:00

Ellie has been talking about sitting on Santa's lap for weeks. Every few days she would say, "I want to sit on Santa's lap." I asked her what she was going to ask him for. Her reply, "Barbie toys!". Now, keep in mind, she doesn't HAVE any Barbie toys, hasn't ever played with any Barbie toys, but I suppose she sees commercials while she's watching Dora each morning.

So, when we saw that they were taking photos with Santa after the Pleasant View Parade, I knew that was a great opportunity to get that visit with Santa in.

After the parade, we were second in line to see Santa. While we waited Ellie was so excited and wanted to go set in Santa's chair. It was so funny when Santa came in, she didn't pause when it became her time. She walked right up, climbed up in his lap and POSED!!! She talked and talked to him, hugged him and posed for all the pictures.

Getting ready to leave:

Before the parade, we stapped a few pictures in front of the Livery Stables.

Waiting for the parade to start:

Posing with Santa (yes, the photos seem a little red to me??)

Catching Up!! Happy Thanksgving, birthday, anniversary

2010-11-26T22:52:00.000-06:00

Yes, I got a little (read a lot) behind on my blogging. Life was so crazy the last six weeks of football that I feel like I nearly lost my mind. In fact, there are parts of it that I'm certain are still gone!! So I'm back posting to update the blog so that I can reflect a little on what our life was like over the past month. THEN... it's going to be my goal to blog much more frequently from here on out.

From my last post on Josh's 13th birthday, we followed up by celebrating (very quietly) Kevin's birthday the following day. We celebrated Thanksgiving at Ellie's preschool and then both preschool and "real" school was out for the Thanksgiving holiday. During this time period, I was literally LOST in the making of the Joelton Vikings year-end book. It turned out beautifully. I hope that years from now, these boys will find this accurately captures all our memories from this year as Vikings. Here's the cover.

Hours upon hours were spent finalizing the book, sending me into quite a frenzy so that the day of Thanksgiving I woke up very sick to my stomach and unable to leave the bed. Since I was the designated cook, Thanksgiving was cancelled. I probably slept 90% of Thanksgiving and felt awful that I had to cancel on my parents, husband and kids. I don't even know what any of them ate that day.

The following day was our (sixteen year) anniversary, and we spent the day driving to Birmingham for Josh to play in a post-season bowl game wtih the Donelson Warriors. We were so suprised to find that the teams were playing at Legion Field. The expression on the team's face as they walked in and saw the college-sized stadium was priceless. I may never forget that. My camera broke somewhere during the last several weeks and so there are no photos that I took, but fortunately, my friend Kelly was able to catch a few so we have some to "remember" by.

Josh was #33 on this team.

The Warriors ended up winning the bowl championship on Sunday afternoon. Here is a photo of Josh with the team's trophy.

We had a nice time in Birmingham and there was even enough "down" time for me to get a little "Day After Thanksgiving" shopping in at the local Walmart, Kohls and Walgreens.

And before we knew it, Thanksgiving weekend was over and it was back to school and work for all of us.

There is a TEENAGER in our house!!

2010-11-21T21:58:00.005-06:00

I have so many things to finish up tonight before I can hit the hay, but my job as a mom would be remiss if I didn't take the time to capture my thoughts on this most important day -- Josh's 13th birthday.

I cannot believe we have a teenager in our house now!! It seems like such a short time (some days) ago that he was Ellie's age and we had Braiden over everyday playing and we were starting soccer, then baseball and football. Where does the time go?

Last weekend, when we went to Owensboro, I had a cake made that we used to celebrate all the Vikings November birthdays. It was a cool cake.

We took him out on Friday night to eat with his grandparents. He got an Xbox for his present and was excited to get hom and start playing right away! Amazingly enough he "LOVED" us as soon as he saw the present. We were the "GREATEST". :-)

Today I made lunch for him with some of his favorites. After lunch he got some more Xbox time in and then he got to play his last game as a Joelton Viking. It was so bittersweet. I'm happy to be done with football, but knowing that we'll lose contact with so many people that we've spent so many years with is sad. This wonderful group of boys/young men will never come together as a team of Vikings again. The memories will have to be enough.

I begged Josh to let me take just one photo of him today. It was like pulling teeth. My camera has gone KAPLUT and so I borrowed a friends to take some football pictures tonight at the game. It was a bowl game called the Wounded Warriors Tournament. They raised between $6000-$7000 for wounded military, so this was a great endeavor. The Vikings won their age division and brought home another really cool trophy.

It's hard to tell, but this is Josh receiving his medal.

Time is slipping by quickly. He is closer to leaving than he has ever been. There's a lot I stil need to teach and share with him, to make sure he is ready. I suspect the next five years are gong to be way interesting -- in ways I can't begin to (nor want to) imagine. He's a good kid, though, and I know we will enjoy going through all our fun times to come as a family.

I love you, Josh. Happy Birthday, young man. Welcome to your teenaged years.

One Day I'll Look Back and Laugh

2010-11-18T20:46:00.002-06:00

I really, really want to look back and laugh, but I suppose I'll have to remember in order to laugh. Today was "one of those days" all the way around.

Kevin had to be at work really early in Dickson today so I was up with the chickens to make sure everyone got where they needed to be. Josh did NOT want to get ready and we spent a lot of time bickering over where his shoes were, his socks, had he brushed his teeth, combed his hair, hurry up we are running late, come on, eat breakfast, oh it's too late, take it with you. And all the while Ellie running her own narrative in the background about blankets and potties and poptarts and juice and cats and dogs and where's daddy and where are we going. And, all of this process took place between 6:30 and 7:00. Oy.

I finally get Josh and Ellie into the car to leave and the gas light is on. Oh well, no time, gonna have to chance it. I had received a call from neighbor Kelly asking me to take one sock and $5 to her son who had left them at home (see, it's universal) so I stopped by and got it out of the mailbox to deliver. Josh indicates to me, casually, that his stomach is hurting. I figure it's random and pretty much ignore it. We are having a conversation about how horrible his room is and how he had to clean it up when he got home because I am tired of sticking to the floor so I figured he was trying to get me off topic.

Almost there and he says his stomach is REALLY hurting. I asked him if he wanted me to stop at the store to get him some Tums and he said yes. I got those, Ellie some Cheetos (yes, a balanced meal for breakfast) and got back in the car. We are trying to figure how to get back into school traffic when he flings the door open and throws up repeatedly every where. Oh. Yay. Gross.

I swear I probably drove around that gas station parking lot three times trying to figure whether I should take him home, to the doctor ... WHAT to do. Then I got my mind about me and realized he couldn't go to school, and that I still had a sock to deliver. *smile* I delivered the sock and money and told them not to bother to give me the "Your Kid Isn't At School" automated phone call beause I knew it as he was in my car throwing up. [As an added bonus: I go that call anyway]. We had a conversation about the new ridiculous "five parent days per year" policy and I left. At this point, Josh points out to me that there is yuck all over my side runners, the door and the door jamb. I think that I will go out to the car wash and blow it off quickly. I had no cash when I go there. Surprise. I had planned to stop at the Dollar General as we used the last of the toilet paper this morning but I had a puker and a baby. I passed it up. My neighbor Kelly brought me some -- what a good friend.

We get back home and I get Ellie in and Josh in and laying down and I go back out to spray off the car. That was fun -- not. Ugh.

I come back in and begin to get Miss "I will NOT do anything that you want me to if you are remotely stressed" ready for preschool while checking on Josh. I get Ellie ready for school and take her to drop her off. It has been such a bad morning so I stop at McD's to get coffee and a sprite for Josh. I think I'll get him a movie from Redbox. The Redbox machine was broken. Surprise. I got the coffee and spilled it on me before I got it home. When I got back home, Josh was fast asleep -- where he stayed all day.

It's been a crazy day all around -- every time I turned around I did something crazy. At one point, I knocked a cup of cat food into the floor, almost fell and busted my rump when I got up to answer the phone (in socks) on the hardwood floor. This is because Josh though the air freshner was a can of Febreeze dust spray and now the floors are UBER slick.

I've gone through nearly a can of Lysol. Poor Josh slept 90% of the day and finally took a wee bit of Sprite tonight. I'm not sure if he'll be able to go to school tomorrow or not.

His birthday is Sunday. Kevin's is Monday. It's another busy weekend ahead.

Letter H

2010-11-18T20:40:00.002-06:00

Last night, Ellie woke up crying and screaming. It was Kevin's night (smile) to get up with her. She didn't want to calm down and he finally took her downstairs where they both fell asleep on the couch. Tonight I had a conversation with Ellie about what happened last night. It was a RIOT!! It went like this:

Me: Ellie why did you wake up last night crying? Were you having a dream.
Ellie: Yes
Me: What were you dreaming about?
Ellie: Letter H
Me: Letter H?
Ellie: Yes
Me: Was it scary? Is that why you had to go downstairs?
Ellie: No. I had to color it.

Oh. Well, there you have it. The thought processes that she has lately is amazing. I asked her today what Santa did. She said, "Brings toys." I asked her what kind of toys he was bringing her and she said, "Princess toys." I asked her what toys he was bringing Josh and she said, after a thoughtful pause, "Boy toys".

They MUST be talking about the days of the week at school because she is FASCINATED with the calendar on the refrigerator and what we write on it. We have to go through the calendar with her telling her what is going to happen on what day. She is very well aware that Josh's birthday is on Sunday and Daddy's birthday is on Monday. When I asked her what we were going to do for their birthday she told me we were having a party with cake and presents and that MeeMee and DeeDee and Nana was coming and Josh was going to blow out a candle. Spot on, that girl!!

Why I LOVE Consignment

2010-11-11T11:23:00.004-06:00

One of the local sales has a holiday sale and I worked/shopped this week. I'm going to show you WHY consignment pays at our house!!

I found a Little Tree Train table for $25!! The least expensive "new" train table I found was $94 with many like this one running upwards of $200. This is the one I got. The kids already love it and are fighting over it. We still have all of Josh's wooden train sets from when he was little, so it's been great fun already!

This was my other SUPER HUGE bargain. It's a Fisher Price Kid-Tough DVD player (for Ellie, obviously). It retails for $198. It was in the original packaging with everything included, said it was used once, looks perfect, work perfectly and was .... $35!!!

One of our friends had bought Ellie the accessory kit for it for her birthday (ironic, huh?). So she is set for trips with her OWN DVD player that I don't have to worry about her dropping/breaking/etc.

Consignment rocks!!

I also picked up some Nike tennis shoes (looks perfectly new) for $4, a Barbie electronic cash register set, $6; a keyboard on a stand with stool (Ellie style), $7, 8 vintage comic books (for Josh) $4, three Barney DVDS (yes, she LOVES them) for $3 each. I LOVE consignment!

Fun with our Kentucky Friends

2010-11-11T11:04:00.004-06:00

We've been TRYING for months to get Ellie and "Hotdog" and "Pudding" together to play, but when they have four kiddos and we have two kiddos, the schedules don't often match up.

We were excited that all kiddos were off on Election Day and we could meet up in Bowling Green for the two Tokmok Princesses to have some play time. We were even more blessed that Little #2, Pudding, was able to come because we LOVE some Pudding!!

We met at a indoor play place and spent a couple of hours letting the kids just PLAY PLAY PLAY!! They had so much time and Allison and I got some great adult visiting time!!

Then we had lunch at Wendy's and they were SO GOOD and we had such a nice time.

I so hope we can do it again REALLY SOON!! Ellie loves her BFF Hotdog and her brother Pudding!!

This SO captures the essence of Pudding!! He and Ellie are kindred spirits!

The kiddos ALL loved the train table -- which caused me to purchase one at the recent consignment sale - $25!! -- and played there a LOT!

The playhouse was another big hit:

Jumping Jacks!!

BFFS!!!

My little gymnast!

Hoping to "steal" a picture of the three of them at Wendy's from Allison -- soon!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-11T09:12:00.004-06:00

I am behind AND out of order in my posts, but better late than never is my new motto. I've had the annual "fall crud" for about two weeks and have felt TOTALLY overwhelmed with all I have to do and literally try to just get everything done that HAS to be done each day.

Halloween was A LOT of fun this year. Ellie had been talking about Halloween, Trick-or-Treating and "CANGEE" for weeks. We had several costumes to pick from since in Tennessee you can have sub-zero temperatures or 80* in October. We had an Elmo costume and a ladybug costume that never made "the cut" as it wasn't quite cool enough. Fortunately, Snow White and Tinkerbell DID make the cut and we had some fun at a Mother's Day Out party, a preschool party, a party at Grandmother's nursing home, dressing up at Josh's play-off game, doing a Trail of Treats on Saturday night, and then attending our church's Harvest Festival on Sunday, followed by trick-or-treating in Josh's friend Braiden's neighborhood (of course, Braiden's mom is my friend too!!!).

Josh decided he would dress up as CAMO MAN this year and he looked so grown up and handsome. There was a twinge in my heart when I saw the pictures and realized how fast he is changing on me.

We did some serious hair rolling during Halloween!

Snow White's "get-up":

It was early and Cinderella was COLD!!

Ellie and Addie at MDO. Addie kept telling her mom that Ellie was a princess!

Ellie and her fried Caleb. Look at the LOOK on her face:

Cuties!

Ellie's BLING:

At her Preschool party, she dressed up as a Kyrgyz princess. Isn't she beautiful?

Her class party:

Checking out her goodies:

Decorating pumpkins with stickers:

Looks a lot like her mama, I think!!

GRANDMOTHER'S Harvest Festival at the Nursing Home:

Tinkerbell arrives:

Tinkerbell and her brother (who needs a haitcut and maybe a change of attitude from the looks of this photo):

Grandmother didn't want to go outside, so we opened the shades in her room and enjoyed the fun from inside. I was still able to catch some pictures through the window(surprise!):

Ellie LOVED the cotton candy:

Hollywood!!

After a fun day of football, we headed over to the Church of Christ for a Trail of Treats -- an outdoor run through the woods collecting candy! Look at the faces of these two happy kiddos when we got home!

Then came "the sort". Josh has done this every year since he was little. He "organizes" the candy.

Then they put it all back in their pumpkins;

The NEXT day was actually Halloween and we were back to Snow White -- for mama AND Ellie, a CAMO MAN for Josh!

This "hands on hip" look cracks me up:

She was SO SO SO excited about trick-or-treating:

My babies:

Look at how she is squatting like Josh:

CAMO MAN!!

Harvest Festival at Church:

Ellie and Macy:

Ellie and Elaina:

Ellie LOVED this bunny from the Alice in Wonderland trunk:

COOL car:

We stopped by MeeMee and DeeDee's for some Halloween presents (aren't grandparents great??).

It was a GREAT Halloween!!

Super Bowl CHAMPIONS

2010-11-11T09:09:00.000-06:00

I am so proud of Josh's 11/12 Joelton Vikings football team!! They went to and WON the 2010 Middle Tennessee Junior Pro Football Super Bowl last weekend.

We have been SO CRAZY busy for the last two weeks I've been SUCH a blog stalker, but I'm going to TRY to catch up, best I can. I still have over 700 photos to edit from the Superbowl. Yes, I'm a bit of an overachiever with a "can't-say-no" complex. I need therapy. :-)

Josh's team faced the White House Warriors. Two years ago, when we went to the Super Bowl and won, it was facing White House. Both teams had the same record: 10-0. Both teams beat their opponents at about the same scores each week. I'll be honest, I was a bit nervous.

We had come through play-offs against Portland (a dirty on-the-field brawl ensued and the police had to be called -- HORRIBLE sportmanship on the part of Portland), and a clean but good, tight second round playoff game against the Greenbrier Bobcats to advance us to this point.

Our boys were READY to play, though, and came through defeating the Warriors 33-6!!! It was a priceless experience and I'm so glad that Josh has gotten the experiences and coaching he has had for the past six years.

Some interesting facts about his team this year: they scored 373 points to their opponents 55. They had 2878 offensive yards, 59 touchdowns, 658 tackles/assists and 17 sacks over the course of 11 games.

Josh's stats for the year were: 44 Tackles 21 Assists 3 Fumble Recovery 1 Safety and 3 Sacks. We are just so proud of how well he did this year!!

The Bakers rented a limo for the boys to travel "in style" to the game, held in Portland, and we all caravaned to the event. It was a lot of fun. After our win, Coach Mike took the team to Hooters to celebrate. I suppose that's heaven for this age group.

And, on to a few Super Bowl photos. There are so many, it's hard to narrow it down to a few, but here you go!

My two kiddos before the game:

Ellie got "gussied up" for the cold day!

The LIMO!!

The team:

Inside:

The caravan leaves the park:

Arriving at the Superbowl:

Last minute preparations:

Superbowl Champions to be:

Half-time:

Final Score:

Getting the trophy:

The trophy:

Josh and Scott:

Josh, Scott, Dave and Coach Jeff:

And our year-end book cover (to be). I took over 4100 photos of this season, all ready to be compiled into our year-end book!! The "2010" numbers came from our kids' jerseys.

And so, that's the end of a successful year, end of a journey for us as a Viking -- well, except that we have a tournment in Owensboro this weekend, a game where our line is merging with a Donelson team and going to Birmingham the weekend of Thanksgiving, a tournament in Donelson AND the All-stars team game and the banquet. I suspect that will take us up to Christmas. Then I need a break -- I need to clean my house!!

Halloween Cookies

2010-10-25T20:43:00.003-06:00

Today was Ellie's first time to help make cookies. I chose a time when we would be undisturbed as she is at a stage where she does NOT like to share -- time, attention, cookie cutters, it doesn't matter. There will be NO sharing.

We found these cookie cutters in with our Halloween supplies and few week's back and she's been SO EXCITED talking about making cookies.

I think the pictures tell the tale much better than I ever could.

We are taking the rest to school tomorrow for her friends to eat. I think she had fun! I know I did.

Happy Gotcha/Family Day, Ellie!!

2010-10-25T18:55:00.002-06:00

Two years ago Sunday, our littlest member of the family landed in Nashville to be welcomed home by her big brother, her daddy, a MeeMee, a DeeDee and a Nana and many, many other friends and family.

I still remember it like it happened last week.

Sunday we celebrated our family's completion by going out to eat at Mimi's Cafe and then taking a trip to Toys R Us for a special toy -- which ended up being a Disney Princess CD player (the kind that plays those molded plastic cds). Not surprising that the wee one who started out as "The Princess" was celebrated with a GiGi's cupcake that is billed as "The Princess" and then got a Princess CD player. NeeMee and DeeDee got her a bowling set which she has worn us out with asking us to set it up and play with her.

I could wax nostalgic for hours upon end about how wonderful she is, but her head is already big enough! Suffice it to say God could not have picked a more perfect fit for our family and we are all thankful every day for her and Joshua.

Here are a few photos from Ellie's special day.

Checking out the Gigi's cupcakes:

We were also celebrating my daddy's birthday, so we had twice the reason for celebration:

Ellie enjoying her Princess cupcake:

MeeMee and DeeDee with their cupcakes:

Kevin was ready to dig into his cupcake:

Nana got a Banana Pudding cupcake -- yumm!!

And Josh got a White Magic Chocolate Chip:

Ellie getting her present:

Ellie got comfy in the floor to "read" her card:

Josh was taking pictures by this time. Thie one is a little blurry, but Ellie's expression is so sweet, I had to share it.

And how about this sweet one of Ellie and her DeeDee:

Football Season is ROCKING

2010-10-25T18:24:00.002-06:00

Where is time going these days? No one mentioned that I would be on the go 24/7 when I "grew up". At least I'm never bored.

Josh's football team, the Joelton Vikings 11/12, have ROCKED this year. Regular season ended with us being 8-0 with our team scoring 295 and our opponents scoring 18. Not one extra point was scored during the regular season game against our boys either. They have been SMOKING HOT!!!

Josh's regular season stats (for eight games) include:

31 tackles
15 assists
5 sacks
4 fumble recoveries
1 safety

Not too shabby, I don't think.

We started playoffs last week and won the first game 26-12. We have another playoff game this Saturday and when we win, we will head to the Super Bowl. This same group of young men won the Super Bowl two years ago and I am SO HOPEFUL for the chance for them to go again.

I'm already saddened that after two weeks, our lives as Joelton Vikings will be over. It's been such a wonderful group of friends to spend the last six years with (half of Josh's life!). Now, we will all go our separate ways with many of our kids heading off to different schools. I can't type this -- I'll be too sad.

NEVER FEAR though: Josh is trying out for the middle school soccer team. Those try-outs started this week and run three days this week. Should he make the team, that will tide us over until baseball season. *smile*

Here are some recent photos of my boy in action.

Josh has even played center a few times this year:

Josh took this team's QB down so hard, I felt bad for him.

It's been a fantastic year so far. The only thing that can make it better is Josh getting another one of those Super Bowl rings!!

Two Years Back ...

2010-10-15T00:24:00.002-06:00

Two years ago I was in a third world country in an orphanage filled with babies waiting to find their forever homes. Some of them never would.

Ellie was fortunate. We were blessed.

I remember the hour and a half ride to Tokmok. It seemed so surreal. I had a mixture of butterflies and the feeling you get on a roller coaster when your stomach "falls out" of you.

All I wanted to do when I got there was run into her room and grab her up. I had to play nice, though, and give them donations, cakes, sign her out on a log book.

She was sleeping when I went in. I remember thinking, "Is this really her?" She had grown a bit and changed a little in the five months since I had last held her.

I scooped in and picked her up and she opened her eyes and her face lit up with a smile. What a beautiful, radiant smile she had. While I will never know if that was the way she always woke up there or if it was just getting attention or whether it was, as I like to believe in my heart, that she knew her mama had come back, it was a beautiful moment.

And I cried. Big fat, happy tears of joy that it was finally over. Five long years of waiting was finally complete in this one moment. God had kept His promise to me.

Tonight when Ellie came home from the ballpark all covered in dirt and grime I remembered how very blessed we were to have this girl in our lives. After her bath when she was sweet smelling and clad in pjs, she came and climbed up in my lap and we watched the video I made the day we got her. Normally, she would talk all the way through it telling me who everyone was and asking questions. I don't know if she was tired or not, but there wasn't any talking on her part. I narrated the video and told her how very much I loved her and how happy I was on that day. We pointed out the entire process (thank you AGAIN, Jennifer for all your pictures -- they are such a blessing to Ellie and us!) as it happened. She only asked one question, "Who's that?" of a picture of one of her caregivers.

We are all so blessed -- each person in this family is a blessing from God.

And while we celebrate Family/Gotcha' Day on October 24, the day we arrived home and become a family of four, today was a sweet time of rememberance.

Here are a couple of photos I took today of Ellie at the park. She is imitating her brother who was trying to get her attention and make her smile. Turns out we were the ones paying attention to HER and smiling!

Happy Half Birthday, Fall Break and "Spring Ya'" Day

2010-10-13T23:47:00.003-06:00

My life is rolling by so quickly these days that I'm having to combine several big events in our family into one blog post. Considering it's almost 1 a.m. and I really should be sleeping ... well, you get the idea.

We celebrated Ellie's "half" birthday several weeks back by having mini cakes at home. Ellie was all about having cake and a candle. Apparently, so was Josh as he wanted his own as well. Due to the wonderful habit of couponing, we have several mini cakes in our refrigerator that were FREE so I didn't mind both kids having their own. I can't believe my tiny girl is two and a half already. Some of the fun things she is doing now is potty training (we are really almost there with wet diapers, but not so much with dirty ones), talking up a storm, asking "WHY?" several times throughout the day, singing all the time, counting to 15, giving a lot of grief to Josh (including hitting him which has resulted in several trips to time out and several stern lectures), loving on all of us (she says I love you all the time!!), coloring, playing dress up and enjoying everything about life these days (well, except naps and sleeping still!).

Here are some photos of her and Josh celebrating her "half" birthday.

We are in the middle of fall break from both school and preschool/mother's day out. Having both kids at home has been both fun and challenging. We've had a couple of field trips and those have been nice. Bickering between the two of them seems to be at a record high and that hasn't been so nice. And it's over the silliest things: whose going to hold the DVD player in the car, who gets to hold a piece of paper, who gets to pick what to watch on television -- silly.

On Monday, Josh, Ellie and I headed out to Chuck E Cheese. I thought it would be a horrible experience, but it turned out to be quite fun. There wasn't a lot that Ellie was big enough to play on, but she managed to use her 10-15 tokens and "earned" 34 tickets. That bought her a ring, bracelet and a sucker and her life was literally complete!! Josh got a lot of game time in and that's always a plus for him! I have photos on my camera phone, but as anyone knows whose ever been to CEC, you don't want to have to hold on to anything you don't have to -- my hands were full as it was!

Tuesday we went to the pumpkin patch. MeeMee went with us and we had a really good time -- well, right up until she had a flat tire when we left. But even that didn't dampen our spirits as we went to lunch while we waited for the repair truck to arrive!

These are my photos from the day. I hope to get mom's up on here in a day or two as well as she has several I don't have!

To see the entire album (well, the ones I've finished editing anyway) visit here.

Wednesday was pretty much a stay-at-home day. Tomorrow we are headed off to the local park for some duck feeding (and picture taking, I'm sure -- poor kids are SICK TO DEATH of having their pictures made!) and then on the doctor's office to get flu shots for the year. I'll be glad to have that out of the way early this year!

Friday we are going to attempt to go up to Kentucky for a visit to the drive-in movies. We've always said we were going and never made it, but I think we just might make it this week!! I'm SO excited. I don't remember having ever been and I know the kids haven't. They are showing Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me as a double feature. Ellie will PASS OUT long before the second feature starts. I'm hopeful that it won't be too cool.

And, last, but certainly not least: two years ago today (the 14th), I was able to "Spring" Ellie out of her first home, the orphanage in Tokmok, and into my arms forever. We don't officially celebrate her "Gotcha" Day until the 24th because that's the day we got home and became a family of four, but this day is so significant and special to me -- it our day, mine and hers, where we bonded and became mom and daughter!!

And for those of you wondering why there is a (c) watermark across my photos now, it's because ... well, that's a post for tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

Ellie & Josh Celebrate Fall

2010-10-07T17:01:00.003-06:00

With the onset of cool weather, I managed to get Ellie into fall clothing and shoot some pictures one morning before preschool. That afternoon, we decided to head over the field and feed Norman and Joker -- the neighbor's horses. I LOVE fall!

Breaking Heart

2010-09-30T15:48:00.002-06:00

I cried today in the drive-in at Sonic.

While we were waiting for our happy hour drinks after school, I decided to peruse Facebook on my phone. One item on the feed stopped me in my tracks. It started with the words:

There’s a tiny grave near an orphanage on the outskirts of Bishkek. It holds the body of an undersized 2-year-old girl who died in August from complications of a disease that is dangerous, yet often manageable in the United States. The little girl, who had been matched for adoption with a Florida doctor, is a casualty of a moratorium on international adoptions imposed long before Kyrgyzstan became engulfed in turmoil this spring.

And I knew from the poster's comments that it was Altynai.

While we were waiting to bring home Ellie, her adoptive mom and I became friends. It was she who took pictures of Ellie during her initial trip to Kyrgyzstan to meet Altynai. She was only weeks behind us in the process and we even thought we might make trip two back together to pick up our girls.

It was during my trip back to pick up Ellie that I got to spend quite a bit of time with Altynai, taking photos and discussing her health, which at that time seemed to be failure to thrive. She had an excellent nurse, however and seemed happy.

I remember getting the news from Suzanne of her diagnosis of hydrocephalus and feeling like I had been kicked in the gut.

Now, I feel the same, only worse. It makes me feel like I'm going to be sick to my stomach.

These little children are the smallest casualties to a war that has no name, no face. They are literally stuck for no reason. Orphans -- there are millions around the world who are without parents, who have no families, who sometimes die without the love of a family. It's just so ... wrong.

Altynai was a special gift and I know that she knows that she did have a mom and dad who prayed and worked diligently to get her home. Now, she finally is home. Rest in peace, sweet baby girl.

For the link to the full article, click here.

Behind, Behind ... Trike-A-Thon

2010-09-30T10:03:00.002-06:00

LAST Friday, Ellie's preschool had their Trike-a-thon for St. Jude's. It was in the gym, so I'll apologize in advance for the photo quality. Was running late and forgot to set the camera for florescent lighting. Even editing hasn't helped much.

MeeMee and Josh came (Josh was very WILLING to leave school early) to watch/support/cheer on Ellie in her tricycle endeavors.

I came in (late, as usual) as they were lining up and Ellie was refusing to wear her helmet. Now, some history on the helmet is in order. Our neighbors, Trish and Lexi, gave her the helmet. She wanted a Dora helmet, so we added some really cool puffy Dora stickers and she has been wearing the heck out of this helmet all week long. THEN... when she realizes she has to wear it, NO GO!! Now, to her credit, it was nap time and she was T.I.R.E.D, but still. Finally, after everyone waited, I pulled her to the side and told her she couldn't ride because she wasn't going to wear a helmet. That seemed to jump start her into action and off we went to the starting line-up.

The ride was 20 minutes long. Ellie never properly pedaled her trike, I don't think, but she did some serious Fred Flintstone foot pedaling. You'll note in her pictures that her shoes are on the wrong feet -- makes it just a touch more sweet, don't you think?

Afterwards, we headed over to McDonalds for lunch and some ice cream before she passed out from exhaustion.

Thanks to our friend, Tom, up in East Tennessee, and lots of folks from the ballpark, Ellie raised $120 for St. Jude's Hospital! Way to go, Ellie. Thank you friends!!

And, of course, a little photo expose of the day:

Getting ready for the day!

A little early morning practicing:

I LOVE this picture:

I seriously think she should be a poster child for the Trike-a-thon, but then I'm biased!

And then the fighting over the helmet begins:

Finally resolved and bringing up the rear is ... Ellie!

Ellie has the BEST brother in the world -- hands down!

They are all working so hard! Aren't they precious??

She looks pretty happy in this one!

And, as quickly as it started, it was over. Time to park your trikes.

What IS this?? I see her doing it all the time!

Then they lined up to go back to class.

Such a fun, sweet time!

Llama Llama Skeleton Pajamas

2010-09-24T06:49:00.002-06:00

Ellie loves the "Llama Llama" books. We have Llama Llama Red Pajamas and Llama Llama Misses Mama and we read them several times every week.

Now that Ellie is sporting some new pajamas, I'm thinking I might need to write a new poem about my little Llama Llama Skeleton Pajamas.

Josh and I were out on "date day" on Sunday and, of course, he indulged me by letting me run into the Gymboree store. I really didn't plan to buy anything, but I always like to browse!! We saw these pjs and they glow in the dark and Josh said, "You have to get those so I can take her outside and see if she glows."

She does, in fact, glow in the dark and thinks it's great fun to wear them. Here she is passed out with them on, amongst all her bedtime friends.

Her Personality Develops

2010-09-22T19:23:00.003-06:00

Elizabeth warned me about donning Ellie "The Princess". I should have listened.

"The Princess" is rearing her royal personality as of late. I posted on Facebook that "Two year olds are not terrible, but they are terribly exhausting." By 8:30, I'm ready to hit the hay lately. It's from running around behind "The Princess" trying to keep her out of trouble/destruction mode.

Just this week I found ink on the bathroom wall, ink on the couch, ink on the living room wall, LIP BALM on the windows and crayon on furniture. She colored her legs with a green Sharpie and the marks are still there -- no matter how much I scrub.

You might say that I need to "put up the markers, crayons, pens". Well, yes, that would be great except that there are no hiding places that she can't find -- I promise. She is a crafty/cunning little one. And, having an older brother who does homework and a mom who works at the kitchen table and a dad who has a desk that is accessible makes it ALL TOO EASY for her to find all kind of goodies to "write" with. It's her favorite thing. I hear it many times a day, "I write."

I've tried having her scrub the wall -- she thinks it's fun to clean. *sigh*

And then there is the "BUY IT!" mentality she has recently developed. She wanted to color with her Color Wonder coloring book but all her markers were either gone or dried up. I told her we didn't have any markers and she replied, "Go to store and BUY IT, Mama". Right. Today, she found the Toys R Us circular laying on the kitchen table. HOW did she know that it was all toys??? We don't go there. I'm not sure she's EVER been there. She grabbed it right up, TOOK IT WITH HER TO PRESCHOOL!!! and continuously named almost every toy in there, all the way to school, ending it with, "Buy it, mama!!" She wants Dora stickers for her helmet for the Trike-A-Thon. I told her we would get some before that day. She replied, "Mama go to the store and buy it." Very matter of fact. Ugh.

Then there is the "stage" that is flat driving me NUTS. I call it the "HUH?" stage. Everything I say, she turns around with a blank look and says, "Huh?" I'll repeat myself and she'll turn back around to me and say, "Huh?" If I'm crazy enough to repeat myself a third time, she'll probably say "Huh?" again. It's maddening. Suggestions on that one are welcome!!

And then there is the NO! NO! NO! I not want it; I not want to; I not tired rantings that we are hearing a lot of now. She doesn't want to eat what we fix; she does not want to wear the clothes we pick out; she does not want to take a bath; she does not want to go to bed. She has such an independent streak -- miles wide!!

But, of all the strong personality traits I've mentioned, I do have to croon that we are 75% potty trained. Mama still needs more training, but Ellie is doing well. She has worn panties to preschool for two days and has had no accidents. We are still doing a pull-up at nap time because I pick her up right after nap and often have to drive around a lot after that, so I don't want to set her up for an accident. We use a pull up at night as well. For some reason, she seems to have a few more accidents at home, but I think she gets so busy having fun that she doesn't WANT to stop and go potty.

Now, if I could JUST get her to sleep until 8:00 on the weekends ...

Her vocabulary and speech have just blossomed overnight. Sometimes I do have to stop and actively listen to understand her, but it's usually because she's reeling off something complex that I can't follow too well, but overall she is a jibber-jabbering girl (especially at home), saying words that I wonder where she's even heard them. Today she was pointing out (and saying) skateboards in the Toys R Us catalog. Tonight I told her she couldn't go outside because she was naked. She looked at me funny and I said, "That's when you have no clothes on." She said, "Oh." She tried to repeat it but didn't succeed well. Hopefully, I won't hear about that one tomorrow after school!! I'm certain she is going to talk my ears off in years to come.

Feeding the Horses

2010-09-20T20:50:00.002-06:00

Today as we were driving home from school we saw the neighborhood horses out and Ellie said, "HORSES!" with a big smile. I asked her if she'd like to walk back over and feed them some apples. She said, "YES!" in her characteristic happy voice.

We cut up some apples and Ellie worked on eating all the white parts out of them as we walked over to see the horses.

Once we saw them, she started running toward them:

Here she is saying, "C'mon mama, run!"

The horses were VERY excited to find out that we had apples!

This ...

... is as close as she wanted to get to them.

When we ran out of apples, she waved bye to them.

On our way back home, she saw the neighbor's flowers and wanted to stop. She ALWAYS (and I mean always) stops to smell the flowers. She does this every afternoon at preschool too.

Such a precious girl!

"Hothpital Jood" - Ellie's New Endeavor

2010-09-16T21:06:00.005-06:00

Trike-A-Thon is a fun, week-long curriculum and fundraising program for daycare centers or pre-schools that teaches children riding-toy safety lessons through a series of interactive stories. Children receive these lessons from special St. Jude friends, Bikewell Bear® and Pedals the Bunny®, while raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At the end of the Trike-A-Thon week, students bring their trikes or riding-toys to school and practice the safety lessons they have learned.

I'm sure Ellie isn't aware, but I've read that Nick Jr's. Dora the Explorer is the new spokesperson for Trike-A-Thon.

Ellie's preschool is doing a Trike-athon fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Now, Ellie's not too hot on a tricycle yet, but we have really been practicing hard.

Yesterday, she brought home the fundraising paperwork for the event and we have set up an online place for more information and a place if anyone wants to donate. Let me point out -- this is NOT for Ellie or ABOUT Ellie; this is for children and families who go to St. Jude for life threatening illnesses, for treatment of cancers, AIDS, sickle cell and other catastrophic illnesses.

At St. Jude, no patient is ever denied for their inability to pay and are not held responsible for anything the insurance companies do not pay.

Tonight we made her a little change jar and she's SO PROUD of it. She tells people she is collecting money for the "kids at Hothpital Jood". Very sweet. I know she doesn't understand, but I want her to always have a heart for helping others and for giving to others.

I'll get a picture of her and her little collection jar (she carries it everywhere!!) soon and post it. There's a link to more information about St. Jude/the Trike-athon, etc. Click the link below.

But, more than anything, tonight or tomorrow or the next day -- whenever you think about it -- pray for those families and children who are at St. Jude (Hothpital Jood) right now. Pray for healing, peace, rest. I know they will appreciate it.

Vikings Soar over Eagles: 43-12

2010-09-13T09:20:00.002-06:00

After the moving 9/11 tribute early in the day, the Vikings got down to some football. All three age divisions won on Saturday. The 11/12 team (Josh's team) scored big and played hard, even in the face of multiple flags being thrown and touchdowns being called back.

Josh was smoking AGAIN this week (and I'm not just a proud mama!), with multiple tackles, assists and a sack. I honestly felt bad for the quarterback when Josh picked him up and sacked him. That had to hurt. That's why mamas aren't football coaches.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day -- and all of them aren't of Josh this time.

We have the cutest cheerleaders:

These boys were ALL OVER the field in the weirdest positions:

But, even though all the pictures aren't of Josh this week, I would be remiss if several of them weren't of him!

Taking down the quarterback once:

And twice:

Who, me?

Proud of my boy!!

9/11 Tribute

2010-09-13T08:47:00.002-06:00

Some of the folks at our park and at the Pleasant View park got together to do a commerorative tribute for 9/11 and for local heroes who had given their lives in service to their country. It was a beautiful ceremony replete with flags, fireworks, local Color Guard and a presentation to two local families of fallen heroes. It makes me proud to be both an American and a member of our community.

The 400 flags that lined the field were ones that lined the streets of Ashland City when Cpl. Kristopher Daniel Greer, 25, returned home. Cpl Greer was killed in Afganistan August 8 of this year. Greer's mother and aunt were on hand for the ceremony.

Additionally, family of Lance Cpl. Daniel G. Raney, 21, was present as well. Raney was killed in Afganistan on July 9 of this year.

The Color Guard was made up of members of the Ashland City Fire Department, Metro Police Department and US Army.

May we never forget ...

Grandmother's Party Pictures

2010-09-13T08:44:00.002-06:00

And while the quality of the "phone photos" isn't great, we still had a good time!

Weekend Recap

2010-09-13T08:13:00.002-06:00

I really want to do more. I want to read blogs. I want to write in my blog. I want to clean my house. I want to scrapbook. I want to do Bible study classes. I want to catch up with friends.

I am happy when I get my work (job) done and get everyone shuffled to where they need to be and back, get everyone some kind of food in their bodies, bathed, homework done and in the bed. That's a good day.

This weekend was no exception. Josh wanted to go to the high school football game. What middle school kid doesn't want to go hang out with his friends on Friday night. However, I'm not a drop off mom, so we have to go if he goes.

Friday after work/school, we had a little birthday party for my grandmother who turned 83. We had pizza and cake and worked some puzzles and visited. It was a nice time. Ellie had fun trying to help work the puzzles.

After the party, we went home, got ready, dropped Ellie off at the grandparents' house and headed to the game. When we got home from that, we had to prepare for Saturday because our local football association was having a 9/11 tribute/ceremony and we had to be at the park by 10:00. After that, Kevin worked the concession stand from 11:30 - 1:30, and Ellie and I went home to get some things done before Josh's game at 2. Josh's game didn't start, due to rain delays until closer to 3:30 so we were at the park until 5:00. After a really heated football game, we grabbed a bite to eat with friends and went home where I edited the photos taken than day, got them uploaded, got kids showered and put to bed (with Kevin's help, of course) and went to bed a little after midnight.

The next morning I was bad and skipped church with both my kids and sent Kevin to teach the SS class. We got ready because we were meeting all the grandparents in Clarksville for lunch to celebrate Grandparent's Day and Kevin's mom's birthday. A trip to Wal-mart afterwards got us home around 4. Clean, clean, clean (Kevin) and paperwork, paperwork, paperwork (Maria) and somehow the night was gone and it was midnight again.

And, then Monday is here.

Maybe I really don't want to do more ... maybe I want to do less!

THIS is what we do for fun ...

2010-09-04T09:39:00.002-06:00

Sad.

I'll go ahead and say it now. The other night, Josh came in with some of Kevin's rubber gloves he uses for work. He decided he would put one on his head because he'd just seen something like it on America's Funniest Home Videos. We decided that he looked like either a) a Super Hero or b) a chicken*. That was all it took. Here is the funny, but sad, evidence of our fun!!

I hope you get the laughs we got out of it.

This girl is PROUD to wear her chicken/glove/hat.

It appears they BOTH are proud.

Then they talked Daddy into the mix. He had a little more trouble getting it on his head.

He's going to KILL me when he sees this.

The contrast between Princess chair and Chicken Head is priceless. Don't you think?

So, like, are they pretending to be chickens and pecking the ground or what?

Ellie and Josh got so tickled, they fell in the floor laughing -- a literal ROTFL.

I am CERTAINLY a blessed woman, aren't I?

*No real chickens were harmed in the making of this ridiculousness -- unless they were so mortified they fell over in embarrassment.

Halloween Party

2010-09-04T08:03:00.003-06:00

You might, like me, be asking, "Isn't it a little early for a Halloween party?"

Why yes, it is.

Which is why I cannot figure, for the life of me, WHY, at least four times a day Ellie asks about a Halloween party.

The first time she brought it up, I was just amazed that she could say the word, much less know what it was. Then she kept saying, "Halloween party??" and finally I told her it wasn't time for one yet. She said, "Ooooohhhh." Then she wanted to know about a costume. Well, yes, we do have some. We went upstairs and looked at the Tinkerbell one, the Barney one and the Elmo one. She put on the Tinkerbell one and wore it around for a while.

I'm just amazed by her every day -- at how much she picks up on and how quickly she understands things. I suppose by the time a real Halloween party rolls around I will be fully exhausted with telling her, "It's not for a while yet." But we'll get some great dress up pictures between now and then.

Random

2010-09-03T20:58:00.002-06:00

Sometimes, usually at the most random times, I find myself indulging in the memories of Kyrgyzstan. Tonight it came as I was getting a scoop of ice cream. I stood, poised at the refrigerator door, reminiscing about trips to the Beta Store and wandering the aisles, trying to make sense of what we were trying to buy and longingly staring at the ice cream, doing the currency exchange and realizing that a small carton was about $10 and that even if we did splurge on it, that it would melt before we got it back to our hotel. I remember just wanting something-- anything--cold. There was no ice, little air and really pricey ice cream; it was June; and I was walking pretty much everywhere I needed to go, and it was hot.

I remember the building the workers were building that we had to walk past on our way to the store. I was fascinated to watch how hard they worked, seeing slight progress each day and a lot of progress when we returned on the second trip.

I think about the statue of Manas that sat outside a building we passed on the way to the Italian restaurant. Interestingly enough, the entire time we were there, trips one and two, I never really thought about Ellie's given name being Aimana and having the name Manas associated with it. For those who don't know Manas is an epic poem in Kyrgyzstan, some 500,000 lines long. It is the centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature and is often recited at Kyrgyz festivals. I wonder who named Ellie "Aimana" and why.

I am reminded of a tiny stairwell in the Burana tower where I literally crawled up steps praying not to touch a spider and then was transported by the visual bounty that awaited me from the top. The mountains, the valleys, the beauty -- all leaving it's mark forever on my heart.

I will never forget the images of the faces I passed every day on my trip from Bishkek to Tokmok. Ironically, the parts of those faces that I remember best are the sum total of the beautiful face I see each morning who awakens with a, "MOMMY!" or "DADDY" followed by a "Good Mornin' mama; I go downstairs" as she gathers her blankies (all of them too).

I remember my first ride over to Tokmok when I couldn't be sure if I was more excited about meeting my baby girl or in awe of the Tien Shen mountains. No words can ever describe the majesty of those mountains and that country's beauty.

It's a luxury to sit with my eyes closed and let the images fly before me again: one I too often don't have the time for. I'm glad the memories are still there, so that one day, I can try my very best to share them with Ellie.

I spend a lot of time these days staring into that sweet, innocent face, so fully of love and she pats my arms, rubs my face as she goes to sleep or says, "Sit with me mama" and cuddles right into me. I wonder, a lot, how to broach the subject, when the time comes, of her "other mama". I know this woman must have been kind, caring and compassionate. There is no way that this sweet, caring child of mine can be so full of love lest she garnered that from her birth mom. I suspect she might have just garnered her headstrong, 'can't stop me' determination from her as well. They are both things I love so much about her -- both hers. But, it is a bridge we will come to, grasp on to God's love and pray for the right words for her to hear to help her somehow understand how two women could love her so much, and we will cross over it and all be stronger for it -- I hope.

Today Ellie got a book in the mail about a horse. I opened it for her and said, "When you lived in Kyrgyzstan, those folks loved horses. I'm sure you will love this book about horses." I am hopeful that small moments like this will lead us into the conversation one day about why she lived in Kyrgyzstan and what it was like there and how she came to live here with us and to be our daughter.

I want to remember to tell her about the coffee stands on the sides of the roads. I want to tell her about the poor, disabled people begging for money on the steps as you walked through town. I want to remember to tell her about the beauty in the faces of the women there. I want to tell her how they all somehow wore high heels to walk up and down those crazy, crooked sidewalks. I want to tell her about the preemie clothes we found in a store along Chuy so that she would have clothes that were hers and that fit. I wish they would have let me have one outfit back. But I know they needed the more than we did. I want to tell her about Aliya buying ice cream for Josh one hot day while we were visiting her. I need her to know that we all fell in love with her the minute we laid eyes on her -- not true -- we fell in love with her years before we met her; our eyes just got confirmation of what our hearts had always known. I want her to know who she was, who she is and that she can be anything she can dream.

I want her to be happy she lives here because, well, we have really, really good ice cream in America ... and, as an added bonus, she has a family who really, really loves her too.

Peek A Boo Playtown

2010-09-02T21:22:00.004-06:00

Last week, Ellie and I had a playdate with our consigning friend, Brittney and her cutie, Maverick. She invited another one of her friends, Christina and her son, Jackson and we went to Peek A Boo Playtown, then had a picnic lunch and let the kiddos play in the fountains.

I wish I had better pictures but I left my memory card at home and had to live with phone photos. Ellie had such a good time at the play place. There were lots of stations and I know she tried them ALL out. Hopefully, we can go back when I have my good camera and I can get some good ones of her playing and ones of her with her new friends!

Sorry the photos are in reverse order!

Ellie and Maverick taking a break from their water play fun.

Ellie and Jackson play in the toddler area.

Vikings Sting Yellowjackets

2010-09-02T19:35:00.003-06:00

Josh's football team had their season opener last Saturday. It was against the team that knocked us out of contention for the Super Bowl last year. Needless to say, our boys were out for revenge -- and found it. It was a slaughter with the final score 40-6.

I LOVE taking pictures of the football games for pictures like the ones below. Every year, the cheerleaders have a banner for the guys to run through. Apparently, however, no one put a small rip in the top of this banner and the first kid who hit it literally bounced back off it, fell down, rolled up in it and got back up and kept running. The looks on all the boys' faces was priceless!! It is ineresting to note that in every game that someone has fallen down coming in, our team has won. When several kids fell down this time, I told the coach, "We are going to win big this game." We did. Odd!

Notice #7 is starting to turn sideways.

He hits the ground:

Rolls up in the paper:

Check out the faces on all the kids:

And he's back up and at 'em:

And then several more hit the ground:

Josh was a team captain for this game.

Josh trying to deflect a pass:

Does he not look like he's saying, "Oh my goodness, what a mess!"

Josh always seems to get tangled up with the "big ole' boys" -- left.

Josh and Scott, looking like they have nothing to do but stand around and visit!

Since it was picture day, I got a "wild hair" to make Ellie a tutu to wear to get her picture made with Josh. Last year, Josh was having NONE of having his picture made with Ellie. This year, he was prepared; she was not. She fell asleep on the way there and wasn't awake enough to warm up to the photographer and I'm sure I've spent money on a picture that will be ... interesting.

However, I did catch a few of them myself and a few of her with some of her "fwends".

Ellie loves to play in the grass and the dirt -- the tutu was NO distraction for her.

This was an "accident" photo, but I love it!

This is what happens when it's hot and naptime.

I love this one of her. Doesn't she look "grown up"?? She needs to stay right at this age -- then again, considering the pellets up the nose and the "into everything" -- maybe not.

How did I ever get so lucky to have such handsome/beautiful kids??

Ellie the Pellet Sneezing Girl

2010-08-28T21:56:00.004-06:00

One day she will be mortified. I will still laugh about it.

Little Rascal Ellie found a pouch that Josh had his air soft pellets in and spilled them all over the downstairs floor. It's wood so they scattereed EVERYWHERE. There were two or three hundred of them. Kevin, Josh, Ellie and I picked them up and I suppose sometime while we were doing that -- or some other time for all I know ... Ellie poked some up her nose. WHY I don't know, but I guess because she's two and that's what you do when you are two.

She didn't mention it at all and hasn't acted peculular at all. Tonight as I was editing football pictures, I heard her sneeze and then the all-too-familiar, "ping, ping, ping" of a pellet bouncing on the floor. I looked up and saw *GROSS ALERT* snot with a red pellet sitting in the middle of it. HUH?

I cleaned her nose off and went to the back door to call Kevin back to the house. As he got closer I said, "Ummmm... Ellie is sneezing BBs out her nose." His look was probably just as priceless as mine was when I heard her sneeze.

We got a flashlight and looked in her nose and didn't see anymore and Kevin said that was probably all of them. Then he asked her to blow air out of her nose. She did and he "thought" there was nothing else, but a few seconds later, I saw what I thought was blood coming from her nose. Nope. Turned out to be another red pellet.

We called the doctor and went through some questions and she felt we were ok to wait until tomorrow morning to come in to see Dr. H. (who, ironically, is on call tomorrow). I love our doctor's office. They even have Sunday hours. Everyone I talked to on the phone got a real kick out of Ellie's story. I'm sure one day she will too!

I asked her when she put them in her nose and she said, "Last night." I asked her did she do it and she said, "Yes." I asked her if there were any more in her nose and she said, "No." Who knows. If there are more, I hope the doc has a sedative for one of us.

Ellie's "School" work

2010-08-26T18:14:00.003-06:00

Ellie is learning her ABCs in Preschool. Here are the first pages she brought home from "school" along with her first "craft" -- a musical toy that she LOVES.

I'm pleased to also report that she can accurately recognize her name, my name and Kevin's name in a list of names. She's still working on Josh's, but I think it's amazing that she can pick those names out. Go, Ellie!!

And just because she's so cute, here's a picture of her eating her snack before bed: sugar free pudding with sprinkles and a COOKIE.

******

And, an update on Josh. Remember those photos from earlier in the week where he was guarding a REALLY large kid? Well, that ended up costing him a trip to the doctor this week for pulled muscles in his chest and rib areas. Poor kid has been tanking up on Motrin this week in hopes it will heal quickly and he'll be able to play in Saturday's game.

No cute pictures of him this week because he does not want his picture made.

And You Thought YOU Were Having a Bad Day

2010-08-26T18:06:00.002-06:00

I was driving home from working today when I did a double take at the store just down from our house. Our friends own the store and its where we go all the time to get stuff when it's late or we don't want to drive to a store. It's where we buy gas and pizza.

I saw the police car (lights flashing) before I got to the store. I honestly thought they might have been broken into or something. Then I saw the yellow caution tape. Then, as I was driving by I did a double take. What in the world????

I turned around and went back and was glad (again) that I always have a camera of some kind in my car. It's not every day you see this.

You thought YOUR day was bad? Imagine going home and telling your husband/wife/parents -- INSURANCE COMPANY -- that you drove through a plate glass window at the gas station.

At least the gas pump hose wasn't still attached, Lori!! *smile* I think they have trumped you.

Joelton Vikings Begin Season with Win

2010-08-22T21:14:00.006-06:00

This is Josh's last year to play for the Vikings. It's hard for me. He's been a part of that program since he was six, with the exception of one year he took off to play fall baseball. That's a long time and a lot of football games with a lot of the same kids and parents. They feel like family. We have eight regular season games and the potential for two post-season playoff games and the Superbowl -- then, it's over.

Today on the way to the Jamboree, I told Josh, "You realize this is your last Jamboree." He replied, "No, it's not, when I play in middle school and high school we'll have them." I replied that it was his last Vikings Jamboree. He seems less concerned about it than I am. Typical boy, I suppose.

We arrived to thunder and some lightning off in the distance and were concerned we might not be able to play. It was as if even the weather sensed the tension between the teams -- the fierce desire to win. The Jamboree features all the teams in the Middle Tennessee Junior Football league, the 6/7/8 year old teams, the 9/10 year old teams and the 11/12 teams. Younger kids play earlier and older kids play later. We were the third from last match-up and were paired up with long time rival White House East.

Jamboree is also the time kiddos who want to handle/run the ball have to "make weight" -- be below a certain weight. This year, it was 130 pounds. Josh is a lineman, so we've never had to worry about making weight, but this year, four kids were really trying to make weight. Three did, one didn't, but he was fine with that because in all honesty, he wants to kick the ball and that doesn't have a weight limit. I was so proud of those guys and the hard work they put in to loose that weight.

After weigh-in, the boys did some warm up exercises and then just hung around waiting for their time. Josh has been fortunate to have some of the same core coaches throughout the entire program, so there is a familiarity to how things are going to go. There is a routine that is comforting -- much like Ellie's blanket is to her when she is tired or scared -- and that, I've realized, will be ending soon. I suppose, having "been there done that" in other areas of my life, I realize what Josh doesn't: that he will never have this same experience in his life again. While he may play football for years and years, it will never be with the same people, with the same awesome, caring coaches, with the same routines and same winning streak that he has been blessed with through the years. This group of kids has played at least sixty-seven regular season games together over the past seven years. In addition to that, they have typically played several pre-season scrimmages, post-season bowl games/tournaments and out of state tournaments. The core group of twelve year olds have likely seen around eighty games together through the years.

Pre-game prayer (yes - we still do that thanks to our wonderful coaches!):

Each year, we drop one or two as they start to play middle school ball, decide to pursue another sport or just burn out, I suppose. But the core is still there -- a lot taller, a lot more mature (in some ways) and with me catching glimpses of the men they will become. I'll admit; it's hard seeing these boys that I've photographed all these years suddenly become teens.

I carry on too much. My friend, K, says it's mid-life crisis we are all going through. Whatever.

The game was two 10-minute halfs and the Vikings did very well. The final score was 12-6 Vikings. There were mistakes, but, no one wants to reveal their entire hand at Jamboree. The win was great, however, coupled with the three pre-season scrimmage wins, at building confidence for the season. The "Revenge Tour 2010" has begun. Josh's head coach, Mike, has deemed this year the "Revenge Tour" because we didn't get a chance at the Superbowl again last year. Our boys won back in 2008 and one more Superbowl win would be the crown jewel for our boys. Yes, I know it's only football; it's just a sport. But these boys work really hard for five months a year and play in heat, rain and cold. It's a sweet victory to see their hard work pay off.

I love this picture for some reason:

I took too many pictures, as usual. Josh HATES to have his picture made now. Gets angry and turns his head or closes his eyes. The year I most want them -- he wants them the least. I'll work harder. One day they will be important to him. If he were really honest and didn't want to appear "weak", he'd say they are now. I know that all these boys can't wait to see their pictures and I see them all over facebook for months and months to come. They are proud of their hard work and I am proud of them and glad to share these photos with them.

Good grief, this kid he was blocking was BIG!

I have a large photo very much like this one hanging in my upstairs hallway. Same stance, some of the same people -- different team, different year, smaller boy. It's interesting to compare the changes in what was a little boy to what is now an almost teen.

Ellie, was GEARED UP for the day, though, and even though she did NOT want her picture taken at first, she loosened up after a while.

Arriving at the park, NOT wanting her picture made:

This is her and McKenna, Coach Hans' oldest girl. Aren't they beautiful??

After the game she was ALL OVER Joshua, wanting to pat his head, sit on his lap and hug him. She is his smallest, biggest fan. This is SUCH a sweet picture of the two of them.

Sweet face:

I think she might be trying to wink here:

Post game, hanging out with friends:

We stayed around to watch our friend Braiden play and Ellie and Emily got some play time. Here's Ellie loving on Emily.

After the game, we went with some football friends and had pizza. All in all, it was a great afternoon.

Fun Times -- Road Trips and Bedtime

2010-08-22T21:06:00.004-06:00

Today we took a little road trip. Well, it was SUPPOSED to be a trip to a birthday party, but mama didn't pay attention to the invite very well and showed up a week early for the party -- only to find there was no one home. Poor Ellie was devastated and I almost cried on the spot because it wasn't just down the road, it was TWO HOURS away in Kentucky. We had found substitutes for our Sunday School class, arranged for someone to let the dog out, got the car cleaned out, loaded up, had the present and everything. The only thing missing for us was the party. How embarrassing, honestly. Try explaining to a two-year-old who wanted to see her friends and have a party why we drove this far and there is no party. Fun times. We actually did make the best of it and got a lot of laughs out of it.

Then tonight, at bedtime, I asked Josh if he would read to Ellie since I was trying to get the last few things cleaned up in her room/closet. They were SO sweet that I had to take a picture of them. When Josh was little, one of his favorite books was "How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnite?" It's now one of Ellie's favorites too. I also found a Dinosaur board book called "How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten" and she likes it a lot too. Tonight they checked them both out.

Ellie really likes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom too.

I told Josh on our road trip today that he needs to wear green more often. His shirt REALLY brought out the green in his eyes today.

Sign of Things to Come?

2010-08-21T23:35:00.002-06:00

This is Ellie's newest "stance". I see her doing it all the time. I'm wondering where it came from because I honestly don't think I stand this way -- ever. It's funny and cute though, for now.

More on the Vikings football jamboree (with photos) tomorrow or Monday. I'm tired.

Talking Up a Storm ...

2010-08-20T20:30:00.003-06:00

I was at Girl's Night Out tonight and took Ellie. We were having a jewelry party so it was fine for her to go. One of the moms who was there has a grown son and he and his nine-week-old infant son stopped by (his wife was there) and she was trying to remember how much her son weighed at the same age. She said, "I'm old and I just can't remember back that far."

And it hit me.

That's why I feel the urgency to write in the blog, why I need to keep a record of all the mundane things that go on in Josh and Ellie's life. The weights, the milestones, the funny stories. Because one day, God willing, I will be that mom of a grown son and daughter, trying to remember how much they weighed and what they said and did. Josh got scrapbooks. Ellie and Josh now have a blog. I wish I had a blog back when Josh was a little bitty one. At least there is now.

Ellie, by the way, has gained a pound and a half over the last few weeks, topping her out at 24.5 pounds. She came home at 12.4 pounds, so at almost two years after coming home, she has doubled her weight. She's eating up a storm lately, trying everything she can. At the party tonight she had some pizza, kiwi, apples and chicken salad.

And she is talking up a storm. She is talking in complete sentences, loves to talk on the telephone to anyone who will talk/listen, makes friends quickly and is a social bug. Her ability to say things has just blossomed over the last month or so and she will try to say any word you ask her to.

She had a bit of regression in her sleeping earlier this week when she started preschool. However, after going every day this week, she has passed out each night of sheer exhaustion. She regularly sleeps somewhere between 10-11 hours every night.

Josh is doing well in middle school. He seems to like his team and his teachers -- or he is just being closed mouthed about it. His football team starts their official season tomorrow afternoon at the opening jamboree. I can't believe this is our last year with this team. Seems like just yesterday he started playing football -- when he was 6. Don't blink moms and dads. You think it won't happen to you, but it will. I know that in about six years, he will be leaving to go to college. I can't begin to think about it. The amount of changes our family is in for over the next several years is huge and I just can't wrap my head around it some days.

Toy Story Beans

2010-08-18T09:16:00.002-06:00

Last night as we were eating dinner, I wanted Ellie to try some of the field peas we had made. She "not want it" -- as is her style. I told her (off the top of my head) that these were special; they were TOY STORY beans. Her eyes got wide and she tried a spoonful. She wanted more. Finally, we put some in a bowl for her and I looked over and she had the bowl up to her face DRINKING the beans.

Cute moment -- wonder if it will work for Josh and broccoli???

Sort of Feels Like Stealing

2010-08-17T22:56:00.002-06:00

Not a title you might think you'd be reading on my blog, is it?

I had two VERY satisfying shopping experiences today and just wanted to share so those of you who are trying to stay frugal (sounds better than cheap, doesn't it?) can file these away or use them yourself.

When Kroger last had their $10 mega event (buy 10 items, save $10 off or some such thing), their Gatorades were $.49. They were totally out when I went in to buy my 30 and so I got a raincheck to buy them at $.49 within the next 30 days. Today I was in the area and thought I'd run in and get them since football is in full swing and I think we are running low. I had two coupons for "Buy 10, get 5 free" and I had two Catalinas (they pop out of the coupon machine at the store when you buy certain foods) for $3/off and $2.50/off. Going in, I assumed I would be paying about $5 for those 30 Gatorades and I was just happy as punch. Well, Jeoffrey wasn't as happy to see me arrive. His first comment was (literally), "Cr*p, I hate rainchecks." Well, good to see you today too. Finally, after he figured how to ring them, he realized I had *gasp* coupons and had the audacity to say to me, "You should just keep these for when they aren't on sale." WHAT??? I simply said, "I don't want to keep them, I want to use them today while they are one sale because I never buy them if they aren't on sale. I stock up when I can get them cheaper." Apparently, that offended him because he said another lovely word and couldn't figure out how to ring them up. Finally, he just took off $10 and said, "There." Well, it was supposed to be $4.90 which I pointed out and he replied that each coupon was good for up to $5 and that's what he was ringing it up as. Ok. Final cost for 30 Gatorades????

Wait for it.

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$.34. Yes, thirty-four cents. WHOOP WHOOP!! I literally felt badly. I would have added a candy bar or something but I knew that would send Jeoffrey into next week so I paid and left -- quickly before they changed their minds.

Then, today, on Facebook, I read about a deal where I could get inexpensive diapers/pull-ups. We have pretty much moved exclusively to pull-ups. They are easier all around and I'm hopeful those cute little Dora faces will encourage Ellie to go potty. Not working yet, but, maybe soon. Anyway, I digress.

Apparently, Amazon.com has a deal where if you sign up for Auto Ship, you get 30% off your diapers. Now, you can immediately cancel your auto-ship option after you order so that's not a big deal. You can COMBINE this offer with coupons that you can find in the August and September issues of Parent and Parenting magazines (you might have to be creative here -- ask your friends if they get the magazine, pick up a copy or two at the store, whatever). Tonight I managed to get a box of 68 Easy Ups (Pampers) for $2.68 SHIPPED TO MY HOME with 2 day shipping -- $2.68. I am going to try to get enough coupon codes to do it two more times (you have to use a different name each time) in order to get three boxes. I am hopeful this will finish us up. 204 Easy-ups for $8.04 makes them right at $.04 each. Diapers, I think, might be less expensive, but I haven't checked on those. Best thing, I don't even have to clip a coupon or leave my house. This deal ends August 31. Oh, and your local library might let you get the large orange coupon from the magazine -- just a thought -- I've read that some libraries allow that if you ask. Anyway, these SAME 204 Easy-ups would have cost me somewhere between $60-$80 if I had to buy them in the store -- even with coupons. I just saved $50 -- WHOO HOO!!!

And, I have been sorely disappointed that I couldn't find any Harris Teeter stores that had the "Princess Bites" that Ellie likes. These are the Disney princess gummy vitamins. They were BOGOF at $6.99/2 this week -- an awesome deal. AND I had a coupon. Tonight I happened to think of the raincheck blessing and I asked if I could get a raincheck. No problem they said. I can now get 4 of them when they get them back in stock.

A good day!

First Day of Preschool

2010-08-16T09:09:00.003-06:00

There are too many changes going on in my life right now -- too many little people growing up too fast.

Today was Ellie's first day of preschool at our church. When I asked her this morning if she remembered where she was going today, she said, "Addie's house". I was sad because the end of that time has come. I am so thankful that we had "Addie's House" for the time we did. It was the perfect environment for my little peanut to be in while she was little and learning to crawl, walk, eat, play with friends, etc. Now, that she is a bigger peanut, she is ready for some learning time. I've seen the signs a lot lately, and know that it was the right choice for her, but it seems so "grown up" and she seems so little.

I had planned for it to be a nice, peaceful morning. Plans -- ha. "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. Sometimes I wish He would give me a little advance warning of these plans. Last night at 10:30, I remember we didn't get Ellie a mat for her nap. Granted, I bought the fabric and pillow and stuff to have her a COVER made, but never picked up the mat. Surprise. I called the local Walmart and they assured me they had them in stock. Kevin drove over there and SURPRISE, they have none. They check inventory of another store and said they had them. This morning, Kevin takes Josh, drops him off and heads to that store. SURPRISE. They don't have any either. So my baby went to school with no mat. Bad mama.

Then, in the midst of getting everything ready, I get a text from Josh, followed by a phone call, asking me to come get him because his stomach is hurting. Apparently, he has a touch of a stomach virus. Poor kiddo is upstairs in the bed right now.

Ellie was very excited to get to take her new Dora backpack. However....

Turns out, her backpack is bigger than she is. I suppose that calls for another backpack.

We managed to get Ellie dressed, packed up and to school on time, but she wanted NOTHING to do with the pictures. When we took her out front for her "obligatory" first day picture, she hung her head, got pouty faced and would not even look at us.

LOOK at this face:

After daddy hugs, she and I headed for school.

I asked her to let me take a picture of her in front of the building and she turned around (see the photo below) and said, "I Not Want Picture Mama!" and marched on to the door. Oh, great. We are in for some HARD times if she doesn't want pictures already at two.

I think the fact that it's at her church made things SUPER easy for her because she was not stressed at all -- unlike a couple of kids I saw. She went in, we talked to her "tee-churs" and she got down to business playing with the bugs and the "eye" (ie, magnifying glass). After a bit I asked her if it would be ok if I went home and came back to get her in a little while. She nodded her head ok and I asked her for "some lips" and she gave me kisses and I left. She was playing hard and never looked back at me.

Two o'clock looms far away. I'm going to do paperwork to pass my time.

Youth Group

2010-08-15T16:22:00.003-06:00

Josh began his first day with the Youth Group today. He had little to report about it, but was able to tell me what he learned in class -- so that's a bonus!! He has great teachers; I went to school with one of them when I went to PVCS. I know they will be good teachers for him this year.

It makes me sad, though.

As much as I complained about him and the other sixth graders I taught, they had something special about them that set them apart. They were loud and social and talkative and somewhat disrespectful in that they couldn't stop socializing long enough to listen. But, ironically, if you asked them a question about what you taught, they knew the answers. I LOVED that group of exhausting kids. And while I was glad to "pass them on" -- today I missed them so much.

Honestly, I don't know if I want to continue teaching SS class. I think my "calling" if you will was to that class. Now, mind you, I don't dislike any of the kids I'm teaching now -- and I know a lot of them from their parents and seeing them at church. But I'm not sure if my passion is still there. I'm going to give it a few weeks and see.

Tonight, Josh (and Kevin) went on their first youth group outing: to the Sounds baseball game. I know Josh was probably glad to have one of us there. Kevin promised not to sit with him or talk to him, but just knowing someone "has his back" in this new endeavor has to be comforting. I think it might be a comfort to the other kiddos who just moved up too.

Ellie and I are hanging at home tonight with no plans. We'll see how our night goes. Likely some popcorn chicken, fries, Barney, Dora, tea parties, coloring and dollhouses will be involved.

Time moves too quickly.

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

2010-08-11T20:45:00.002-06:00

Most days I don't even think about Ellie being adopted. Things like our recent trip to the dentist where the Asian family kept staring at Ellie and then me, sometimes make me "remember" that she is adopted, but most of the time it's just not a part of my thoughts any more than giving birth to Joshua is.

Today I got an email from my mom reminding me that on August 11, 2008, a judge in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan made official what God had ordained before the beginning of time: that Ellie was our daughter.

Can it really have been two years? I went back to my blog and was reading some of the posts from that time. I had to stop because it made me cry (but then it seems everything makes me cry these days!). It was such a long, hard wait to get to her. Every day seemed like an eternity. Now, on this side, every day seems to fly by. She has made our family better by being in it, of that we are certain. She is funny, happy and kind. She loves each of us so much and loves the dogs and cats and her church and her toys and Barney and Dora, singing, coloring, dancing, talking and praying. She is very independent (see the photo below, it sums her up perfectly) and gets very upset when things don't go "just her way". Terrible twos have certainly not been bad, they've just been a phase where she is learning to assert her independence some. She is learning her colors, her numbers (in the photo below she is "showing" you how old she is; that's how she shows "two") and loves to see me write her name, Josh's name and our names. She has recently taken to calling me "Mom" and Kevin "Dad". WHERE did she hear that and why does she sound SO grown up when she says it???

Thank you, God, for letting us share her life. Thank you to the birthmom out there who had the courage to give her life and made the heart-breaking decision to give her a better life. Thank you seems like such little words for such a huge blessing.

Two years ... she hasn't quite got the fingers down pat just yet, but she's TERRIBLY cute trying!

It's FOOTBALL time in Tennessee.

2010-08-11T17:53:00.002-06:00

No, I'm sorry; I am not a University of Tennessee football fan. Orange is not my color. I don't dislike them -- mainly, I just don't care.

The football to which I am referring is JOELTON VIKINGS FOOTBALL!!! Josh is starting his last year at Joelton this year as he will age out and begin playing middle school football next year. It is bittersweet, because some of my best memories of fall are of times spent with our good friends at Joelton Park playing Vikings football. I hate to see this era come to an end. However, in the mean time, we've got three months of really good times ahead of us -- watching our boys play to win.

We are calling this year the "Revenge Tour 2010" as our boys are after that notorious Super Bowl title again. They won it in 2008 and got their rings, didn't get there last year and really would love to go back and take the title this year. Coach Mike made t-shirts for the boys.

I still need to get a picture of Josh in his, but this is how Coach Mike's shirt looked after Saturday's scrimmages.

It was seriously hot out there.

The boys played two scrimmages Saturday and won both games. This was HUGE because one of the teams we have played in scrimmages for years and have never won against them. I was very proud of how well the team did, but especially how well Josh did. I think this will be a good year for him if he puts 100% into it.

Josh is #74 again this year -- "his" number.

Ellie had fun on the sidelines "working" the crowd to play with her!! She discovered a love for ice during this game too.

Looking forward to a fun, fun year!

First Day of 7th Grade

2010-08-11T17:27:00.002-06:00

I'm sitting here enjoying a few minutes of relative quiet as Kevin, Josh and Ellie have gone to church. I've got SO MUCH late work to do that I should be doing that, but I know that in 20 years, my late work will be a distant memory, but capturing the memories of the first few days of Josh's 7th grade school year will be much more important. I'll try to explain that to my boss when she asks about my late work.

Monday was the first full day of school. I can't believe my "baby" is in 7th grade this year. Seventh grade is when I really begin to remember school. Middle school was a source of a LOT of fun for me and a LOT of emotional issues. It was a time where you really want to fit in, but often don't know how. It was a time when boys became important and the "right" clothes were important and having a pimple was the end of the world. I'm feeling pretty certain that times have not changed enough for those not to be universal for both boys and girls and to be things that are still issues now.

Josh got up right on time and was ready to go first thing on Monday. I can't say that trend has continued with quite so much enthusiasm the rest of the week, but, much like his mama, Josh is a night owl who would prefer to stay up until 2 a.m. and then sleep in the next day. School schedules were certainly not meant for us.

He reported that his homeroom teacher was "funny" and that he didn't have classes with many people he was good friends with. He did report that, "If you have to be in a class with someone all day, you'll GET to be friends with them." Good thinking.

He has a bottom locker. For a tall kid, that's a source of frustration, but he'll deal with it, I'm sure. They got their planners and I found that he had colored in the country of Kyrgyzstan in the back of his planner. Interesting.

Tuesday he started riding the bus in the afternoon. I was like a mama who sends her kid to kindergarten for the first day. I was a wreck all afternoon. He made it home fine -- not surprisingly -- and wanted to ride it again Wednesday. Reminds me of his mama who had lots of fun riding the bus (there wasn't a better place in the world to a middle school girl who liked to talk). We'll see if this trend continues. It's a blessing for me in that I get an extra hour - hour and fifteen minutes in the afternoon. It gives me time to get Ellie settled in, get her a snack, change diaper/have potty time, pick up the house a little and then make him a snack to have ready. It's amazing how much more calm the afternoons have been with that extra time.

And here are the "official" first day of school photos.

THIS is the impatient daddy waiting to drive him to school.

However, once he figured out I was taking HIS picture, he tried to be cool.

"Puzzled" Bunny

2010-08-07T21:32:00.002-06:00

Ellie has taken a liking to getting out ALL her toys at once. It's hard to stay on top of things and a few steps ahead of her because she is a lot faster than I am.

I saw her working these puzzles the other day and thought it was a riot how she was wearing her bunny ears to do it.

See all her toys strewn here and yon.

She is a very intent, serious puzzle worker.

Josh's "First" Day of School

2010-08-07T21:24:00.002-06:00

Technically, I'm not calling Friday the "first" day of school because it was only 3 hours long and consisted of not a lot of anything other than getting up early and fighting traffic in the car-rider line.

However, I wanted to make sure I mortified Josh by taking a picture to commemorate the day. We will have the "official-in-the-right-location" first day of school photo on Monday morning. I'm sure he will be just as pleased about that one as he was this one.

Seventh grade already? It seems wrong somehow -- like we skipped a large section of years somewhere and went from 2nd grade straight to 7th? I feel like the time we have left with him is so short and there is so much more I want to do/say/teach/share. It feels overwhelming somehow.

Not only is he going to 7th grade, he "graduates" from our Sunday School class this Sunday and will official move into the "YOUTH" group at church. *sigh* Too much, too fast, too soon.

I know he's grown 3" in the past week. He seems to tower over me these days. His foot is the size of his dads. He's becoming a young man way faster than I want him to. Slow down!!

God -- Still in the Miracle Business

2010-08-07T20:38:00.003-06:00

I think sometimes we get SO busy with the seeming importance of our every day lives that we take for granted the miracles that happen in our midst all the time. I got to see two such miracles this week, and I think we are remiss if we don't give some serious glory to God when we witnss such miracles.

On Wednesday, I worked in Chattanooga for a man who had a pinched nerve. He needed a few cases done and my field manager asked if I would do them. It could be done in a (long) day, so I agreed to do it. I was really tired on the way home and was eight miles from my house when the interstate literally shut down. After sitting for an hour, the police managed to get traffic to a place where we could cut-through and turn around and return from where we came to find an alternate route home. I still wasn't quite sure what the accident was, but knew, based on the number of emergency vehicles responding, that is must be serious.

My alternate route took me over a bridge that was right over the accident. Lots of folks were parked on the bridge (this is the country after all) "rubber necking" at the accident. Being the good country girl that I am, I had to rubber neck too to see what had happened, er, what had held me up for an hour. Before I actually saw the accident scene, a woman who lived nearby told me that it was a jack knifed tractor trailer and that the driver made it out alive. Ok, so that was good news. THEN, I saw the accident scene and I IMMEDIATELY knew that God had literally SAVED this man's life. He came down in a hill in a semi, rounded a curve, lost control, managed to ENTIRELY miss the bridge pillar and go right between the bridge support and the guard rail, through the grass, dropping off/getting stuck/flipping his trailer under the bridge, and coming out the other side in THIS condition.

News reports indicate the driver was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but can you SEE the cab of the truck? I can't. I don't even know where it should be (other than in the front). Here is the trailer stuck under the bridge I'm standing on.

He was carrying some type of seed/grain that was all over the interstate. It took road crews five hours to clean up the mess.

Out of all the people around him and on the other side of the road (where the debris from the wreck flew all over), only one truck had damage/injuries in this wreck. Two people in this vehicle were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Just to reiterate, the tractor/trailer driver was alive after this:

MIRACLE!!!

(and yes, not only was a rubber-necker, I got my camera out and took pictures! Anyone surprised?)

The other story is one of a friend of mine (through consignment) whose husband works at the local utilities company. While working Thursday, he was electrocuted and fell from a ladder. Fortunately, co-workers started CPR immediately and an ambulance "happened" to be driving by at that time and was flagged down. He was revived twice by them and taken immediately to a local hospital where he was placed in the ICU burn unit. He was RELEASED from the hospital today with NO injuries. Miracle? Absolutely -- absolutely.

Thank you God. Next time you are in a bad place, just remember, God IS still in the miracle business. We just have to look for them, ask for them and believe in Him.

Pubble

2010-08-07T20:26:00.001-06:00

Ellie cracks us up sometimes with the words she comes up with. Recently her new word has been "pubble" as in, "Bubba is in pubble." This, of course, is translated to, "Bubba is in trouble." Ellie often gets in "pubble" too, but she only uses the word to describe when Josh gets in pubble.

The other day, they were playing so well upstairs that I should have known to check in on them. They both got in "pubble" when Ellie came downstairs and I saw her. I asked, "Who did this?" to which Ellie immediately said, "BUBBA!" Now Bubba says Ellie helped. Ellie, at first, said she did, but when she heard they were going to be in "pubble" she quickly decided she, in fact, did not help and it was all Bubba.

Sadly, these were not the washable type markers but an artist kit kind and they did not come off without a lot of scrubbing.

This is what "pubble" looks like -- pretty darn cute even with the markers!!

After their, um, artistic endeavors, they found the recent Toys R Us sale flier and Ellie was quick to point out the Dora backpack she wants to take to "school" -- a phrase always followed by a pause and the words, "at church".

Football Pool Party

2010-08-03T12:25:00.004-06:00

Josh's football coach always has lots of fun activities for the kids to do during the season (I suspect it's to foster a team spirit/attitude, but the kids just see it as fun). Saturday afternoon, he and his wife had a pool party for them. Ellie LOVES the pool and was the center of attention, being the youngest one there. The boys loved to let her jump to them and catch her and she just giggled away and jumped out and did it again. Josh loved having guys to rough house with! I only

snapped a few pictures while I was there, but they are sweet.

Ellie loved jumping to Mickey. I think he was her favorite.

"Aunt" Maggie took her in the pool too.

Josh and Scott

"Center of attention" Ellie.

Consignment -- Part III

2010-08-03T11:57:00.002-06:00

I am now on my third and final consignment sale. Encores and More North is open to the public starting Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m. Josh and Kevin worked set up on Sunday evening. I worked drop-off on Sunday afternoon. Josh and I just dropped off our stuff today. Sadly, I have just as much stuff going to Goodwill (or maybe somewhere else, I haven't decided yet) as I did to consignment. I'm very picky about what I put out to sell. If I wouldn't buy it; if it has a minor stain, I'm just not taking it. I know, however, many of these things still have a lot of life left in them -- thus, donations.

We have now finally cleared out the tubs of Josh's cloths that were stored in the attic. You can actually walk up there a bit more now. I've cleared out a lot of Ellie's bigger things that she didn't play with anymore -- probably to make way for more stuff, yay. I'm on a "move it out" kick lately. I want more space. I want my HOUSE back. :-)

I'm thinking that I will continue to keep my consignment rack up as it's making a good laundry rack for Josh. If I can more a few more of (Kevin's) work boxes to the attic, I think I will have enough room to move the craft table down near the window and have a laundry area around the corner from the washer/dryer. Whoever built this house was a MAN because no one would EVER put a washer/dryer area in the HALL in front of the bathroom so that there is no room to sort, fold, etc.

I digress. So I get to shop the pre-sale as a worker and I'm telling you I can't IMAGINE how in the world the workers can even make a DENT in the amount of things that are there. 1200 consignors. Toys stacking 12" tall, I'm certain. The "organizer" is coming in tonight to get it in order. Bless her soul.

I'm excited to see what I can find. Josh and I "browsed" today when we dropped off. I saw several cute toys that I think I will get and put up for Ellie for Christmas -- can you believe I'm talking about CHRISTMAS in August??

Back to school night is tonight. I'm anxious to see who Josh's teachers are this year. I know he's anxious to see who is in his class. The right teacher can make a year wonderful. The opposite is also true. I've lived through both. The right combination of personalities in a classroom is always fun to figure out too. It will be interesting to see what this year brings. Seventh grade -- how did we get here???

Josh also moves into the Youth group at church in two weeks. Youth group??? WHAT? He can't be that old? I think it will be a lot of fun for him and I am prayerful that he will have lots of opportunities to do things for God. I know the leadership there is excellent and I know that he will benefit from all their skills.

Ellie's parent night is next week. She is starting our church's MDO and Preschool this fall. I hope she enjoys it. I think she will soak up the school stuff like a sponge. She has really been interested in her colors and numbers lately -- letters not so much. I think this will be fun for her!!

Ellie also will start AWANA this fall as a Puggle. That's the entry level for AWANA and is for two-year-olds. She LOVES church. We are so blessed that God allowed us to be her family and to share our church family and our faith with her. She will be such a blessing to Him, I know.

So, I'm excited to get back into a routine for our entire family. I hope to be able to take a week to spend cleaning/organizing the house -- to include a lot more trash/Goodwill things, I think. It's been a long time coming. I crave organization lately. Too much clutter is making me lose my mind (what little there was left). If I can get organized, I'm hopeful I can make more hairbows, scrapbook more and be a little more crafty in my "I can't get in it" craft room.

Josh has started football again. Practices are SO HOT. I can't say I know this first-hand because I haven't been. Poor Kevin and Ellie trudge up there to be the supportive family and I stay home to get things done while there are less people to work around.

So, that's where we are right now. I'll try to find you some cute pictures of the kiddos soon!

Laundry "Boot Camp"

2010-08-03T11:47:00.003-06:00

I have had enough. I went just a little spastic. I think Kevin's words were "out of control" but nonetheless, I had reached the end of my rope.

For years, I've told Joshua to hang his clothes up. We (honestly, mainly Kevin) wash his clothes and they return to us (sometimes even folded) thrown in with the dirty clothes. The older he gets, the worse it gets. You'll remember the lovely remodel we did of his room and the one thing he wanted was a closet organizer "to keep my clothes organized". Ok, done.

For the last THREE WEEKS, there have been piles of clothes all over his room. He moves them, hides them under blankets, in the closet, in baskets -- whereever -- while he continues to find time for TV and video games.

I asked him Saturday while I was working to get his clothes out, figure what was dirty and what was clean and to lay the clean things on the bed and I would HELP him hang them up. Nothing. I asked him Sunday to do it while I was working consignment. Nothing. Monday, I just flipped.

I went in his room and bagged them all up (chewing on him), told him that he was the only person in the house who was wearing brand name stuff like Hollister, Aeropostale, Nike, etc. and that if he didn't appreciate them enough to hang them up, I was taking them to Goodwill so someone who would appreciate them could have them. He got all upset, but I didn't care. Three bags, sitting at the door, ready to go. That night (after I calmed down a bit and had time to think rationally about how to teach him a lesson from this since nothing else seemed to be working), I told him he could earn his clothes back. Tomorrow (today now) he had to separate them out, wash them, dry them, iron them if necessary, hang them up and put them in his closet.

He is currently on load two (of five).

He will now be responsible for washing his own clothes. He is old enough and has now been taught the proper way to do it. Kevin and I will wash his football stuff, but everything else is his. I'm just tired of fighting with him about it. If he wants clean clothes, he can do it. If he wants to pile them in the floor, I will take them off. End of story.

As I speak, he is hanging clothes. Ahhhh.... so good to see a boy working!