Thursday, June 6, 2013
Books and Blogs...
I was thinking about doing a wrap-up post for Kaylee's Kindergarten year tonight, but since she still has to finish up tomorrow, I'll wait. I'm hoping to get a picture with her teacher and her to include. Of course I was at school today and completely forgot to do it.
Along with getting back to blogging, I also recently started reading again. I have always loved to read. I'm excited Kaylee loves it too! I had seen a book in Pinterest a while back and then found it at a local discount store. Kisses from Katie. Maybe it's because it's just an excellent book, maybe it's because there was so much in it I needed to read right now, maybe it's because my soul has been longing to get back to my love of reading...whatever it was, it was good. And good for me. As soon as I finished the book, I started reading it to Kaylee. It will be our first summer book we'll read together. While we aren't at the point we can pack the gang up and go to a Third-World country, I long for my children to realize how blessed they are. It's easy for kids (especially in their generation), to be self-centered, oblivious to the needs around them. I suppose that's not just their generation, but all generations. I'm looking forward to the discussions we'll be able to have as we read the book.
I'm finishing another book that has been almost-done for a good while. I'll probably need to read it again, too. Tomorrow I'll pick the next book. It feels so good to be reading again.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Four More Days!
There are four more days left for Kaylee in kindergarten and she'll be done! It's going to be so fun to have her home...just have to think of things to do to keep her busy. I have already bought her several books in the Boxcar series to get started. I have a few workbooks we can do. I know, I know...she's going to be done with school, but she's a kid who LOVES workbooks! Today during coloring time, she was asking to do a workbook. I hope this thirst to learn continues for years.
We have VBS planned for next week, which the kids absolutely love. Samantha isn't old enough to be in a class, so she will go hang out in a nursery class, and I'll help in the craft section...at least that's what I'm hoping to do. My kids look forward to this week all year, but by the end they are normally pooped. Hopefully this year will be a little easier on them since they are now both used to school.
I'm hoping to have more of a schedule this summer to avoid boredom and bad attitudes.
So...what do you like to do during the summer? Ideas?
(that's a picture, just for fun, of the kids and Mammaw)
(that's a picture, just for fun, of the kids and Mammaw)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Samantha
Samantha...my spirited, dimple-faced, smiling, mischievous, two-year-old. I can barely look at her without smiling. She loves to run around and yell, "A-prize!" (surprise) One morning, while Adam went downstairs to feed the dogs, she ran into my room with her plate of breakfast and yelled it. Waking from a deep sleep, I certainly was surprised. Mostly though, it's not surprising (as she yells it over and over and over), it's just cute.
Her favorite past time is stealing my purse while I'm not looking and ransacking it. A close second would be stealing my phone, followed by playing with her baby dolls. She is obsessed with Mickey Mouse, something neither of the other kids have really cared about. Of course they get to see their fair share of the show now, so maybe it's a good thing. :)
Her Bible memory verse is, "Jesus loves the little children," and oh my is she ever the cutest thing when she recites it. I need to give her another one; she's long overdue, but somehow I just can't bring myself to "change" it.
A funny little thing she does is when asked if she is crazy, silly, a mess, or anything, her response is, "No, I'm Samantha." Well there you have it, folks. She's not crazy. She's Samantha.
Sam is also my heart-attack kid. She's the one who started climbing to the top of the kitchen table as soon as she could get on the chair, has more than once escaped the house and made her way to the yard. She also likes to hide (usually in a closet), quiet as a mouse while we run everywhere looking for her. Once I find her, she's usually crouched down as tiny as she can get with the biggest grin on her face. The other kids can't keep quiet for a planned game of hide-and-seek, but this kid knows how it's done.
It's sometimes hard having three kids, but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. Being a mom is what I was made for. I've known it was my calling since I was very young. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, for sure, but it's the most humbling, rewarding, amazing task I'll ever have in my life.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Logan
Logan...my little cuddly, crazy, energetic, sensitive, CRAZY boy!
This past year he was in a little preschool two partial days a week. He loved it, and I loved it, too! The school is only about two minutes from our house, so it made for very easy pick up and drop offs. His teachers were wonderful, and really worked hard with him. He'll go again next year, even though he is technically old enough to start regular school. Being right on the cut-off line, we decided it best for him to have more preschool, which wouldn't be all day every day. I have a feeling we are going to be very glad we made that choice.
Logan is awesome, but has a shorter attention span, and doesn't have the drive and desire (yet) to do school work. He's more content playing outside, running, playing with his cars, or just hanging out.
He also played on a little tee ball team...the Yankees. He has one more game left, and the season has been both fun and a struggle. He went into it having zero concept of what baseball was. Some games he was on and some games he was off. I suppose when you're four, that's the way it goes. I think overall he enjoyed it. Now we have to decide if he might try it again next season or go onto trying a different event. Time shall tell...
Thursday, May 23, 2013
That's a picture of my big girl right before her first ballet performance. So what if she forgot half the steps?? She had fun! She may have been a little...ahem...distracted by a certain family member(s) who decided to WAVE at her! (Not me; I'm too much of a ballet snob to do that!)
She is almost done with her first year of school, and I'm so proud of her. She helps others so well. There's a little boy who sits beside her, and she almost always gets him started on his work and helps him through stuff. Her teacher told me she thought about moving them around, but didn't think she could move him away from her because of how helpful she always is. That's the kind of thing you hear and it just warms your heart. Her teacher said it's not common for kids that age to do that. I'm okay with my kids not being common.
...more to come. :) baby steps here.
And Liz! Yeah for me being back and reconnecting with you!! :) Big hugs to you!!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
I'm Back!
Hey everyone! (Or no one, whichever the case might be.) I'm back. After a long two years of not blogging, I feel I need to get back to it. I'm not an eloquent writer. My posts aren't all that exciting. My blogs won't make the news. I'll probably never have more than 5 comments. And that's all okay! It's journaling at its finest for me, and it's time to start it back up.
Life is full right now, so it's not necessarily the time to be adding something else, but sometimes at it's fullest is when reflection must come. Or something like that.
Hopefully I'll be able to remember how to do this and change pictures, but for now, it feels good to be back. It's like reuniting with a good friend who you haven't seen in years. You just pick back up where you left off, talk for hours, and somehow you can go on without noticing the time you spent apart.
I'm excited to move back into the blogging world. :)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Behavior, Modification, Discipline
Three things we need so very badly around here.
Well, let me restate that... We seem to go through times where the kids are really good, and we feel what we are doing is working, and then something happens, not really something, but time, maybe? ...and the kids go nutso and things seem to fall apart.
Right now, we are in the fall apart time, so Adam and I are talking about our expectations, goals, and ways we think we can get there.
Kaylee and Logan are each experiencing their own behavior problems. Kaylee's problems start with her mouth. Logan's problems are tantrum related. Combine the two, and it makes for one very frustrated and tired set of parents. And an even more tired me when Adam is working. (Which of course he gets frustrated knowing I am tired and frustrated...)
If anyone has any suggestions, please comment or email:
adamandkristen86@yahoo.com
At the beginning of 2011, my prayer was that throughout this year I would learn to know what makes my kids listen and respond correctly, and how I needed to direct them. I think it's going to be one of my resolutions for this next year, too...and all the years to come. Simple to say, not so simple to do.
It's not that my kids are all bad all the time, of course, but the system we're using isn't cutting it anymore, and we're all due for a change. I also think some of this is an attack from the devil. I pray big things for my kids. Kaylee is already saying some amazing prayers, with knowledge and insight beyond her years. But if our family is distracted by stuff like disobedience and poor behavior, we get tired, run down, and discouraged. We're exactly in the place the enemy wants us to be. But to quote Carmen (old, I know), "Satan, bite the dust."
Well, let me restate that... We seem to go through times where the kids are really good, and we feel what we are doing is working, and then something happens, not really something, but time, maybe? ...and the kids go nutso and things seem to fall apart.
Right now, we are in the fall apart time, so Adam and I are talking about our expectations, goals, and ways we think we can get there.
Kaylee and Logan are each experiencing their own behavior problems. Kaylee's problems start with her mouth. Logan's problems are tantrum related. Combine the two, and it makes for one very frustrated and tired set of parents. And an even more tired me when Adam is working. (Which of course he gets frustrated knowing I am tired and frustrated...)
If anyone has any suggestions, please comment or email:
adamandkristen86@yahoo.com
At the beginning of 2011, my prayer was that throughout this year I would learn to know what makes my kids listen and respond correctly, and how I needed to direct them. I think it's going to be one of my resolutions for this next year, too...and all the years to come. Simple to say, not so simple to do.
It's not that my kids are all bad all the time, of course, but the system we're using isn't cutting it anymore, and we're all due for a change. I also think some of this is an attack from the devil. I pray big things for my kids. Kaylee is already saying some amazing prayers, with knowledge and insight beyond her years. But if our family is distracted by stuff like disobedience and poor behavior, we get tired, run down, and discouraged. We're exactly in the place the enemy wants us to be. But to quote Carmen (old, I know), "Satan, bite the dust."
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Not So Big Move
I was going to just keep writing on the last post, but decided to be ambitious and write two...not to mention it's been forever since I've written anything at all. Ahem. It's the way it goes with me.
About six months ago we put our house on the market, hoping to sell within our contract time. We're almost to the end of that time, and haven't had anyone look at the house since the first month it was listed. It is honestly very discouraging. I had hopes and dreams we'd be spending the holidays in a new house, but we're not. And I'm trying to have a positive outlook on it. After all, I have a house, right?
But recently, we're really feeling how small the house is...or how big we are, one or the other. Probably both. A few months before Samantha was born, we moved our room to the basement to allow each child to have their own room. Logan was just getting settled into a regular bed from a crib, and we didn't want to stick either kid with a newborn. The older kids weren't big enough to play unattended for more than a few minutes, so it was the best use of the space at the time.
But now we're feeling the best use would be for us to move BACK upstairs, move the girls in with each other, and make the downstairs into a playroom. Sigh. It's going to be so much work. And we're going to go from this huge room back to the small room.
But again, it will work out. We're still hoping the house will sell sometime, but being as the market comes to a near standstill over the winter, we probably won't leave it listed during the next few months. It's all the better though, because even if we went out of town for a night, we had to leave the house in perfect condition due to the chance someone might want to come see the house. We won't have to worry about that over the holiday months. I'm looking forward to being free of that pressure. If you've had a house on the market, you know what I'm talking about.
On a bright note, I would say one of the best things that has happened is I have learned how to keep the house clean...or as clean as you can realistically with three kids and two (or 12) dogs. It's not like before this our house was terribly messy, but it's a lot better. (And I have about 50 boxes packed up, too. Yeah, not sure what I'm going to do about all that...) Sigh. Again.
Alrighty then, that's not all that is going on, but enough to catch any lone readers back up. I often think about blogging, but normally by the time I get to 10:30 like it is now, I'm done. If I could install some microchip in that would allow me to think a blog and have it instantly post, we'd be knee-deep in posts. :)
oops...time to switch over the last load of laundry for the day.
About six months ago we put our house on the market, hoping to sell within our contract time. We're almost to the end of that time, and haven't had anyone look at the house since the first month it was listed. It is honestly very discouraging. I had hopes and dreams we'd be spending the holidays in a new house, but we're not. And I'm trying to have a positive outlook on it. After all, I have a house, right?
But recently, we're really feeling how small the house is...or how big we are, one or the other. Probably both. A few months before Samantha was born, we moved our room to the basement to allow each child to have their own room. Logan was just getting settled into a regular bed from a crib, and we didn't want to stick either kid with a newborn. The older kids weren't big enough to play unattended for more than a few minutes, so it was the best use of the space at the time.
But now we're feeling the best use would be for us to move BACK upstairs, move the girls in with each other, and make the downstairs into a playroom. Sigh. It's going to be so much work. And we're going to go from this huge room back to the small room.
But again, it will work out. We're still hoping the house will sell sometime, but being as the market comes to a near standstill over the winter, we probably won't leave it listed during the next few months. It's all the better though, because even if we went out of town for a night, we had to leave the house in perfect condition due to the chance someone might want to come see the house. We won't have to worry about that over the holiday months. I'm looking forward to being free of that pressure. If you've had a house on the market, you know what I'm talking about.
On a bright note, I would say one of the best things that has happened is I have learned how to keep the house clean...or as clean as you can realistically with three kids and two (or 12) dogs. It's not like before this our house was terribly messy, but it's a lot better. (And I have about 50 boxes packed up, too. Yeah, not sure what I'm going to do about all that...) Sigh. Again.
Alrighty then, that's not all that is going on, but enough to catch any lone readers back up. I often think about blogging, but normally by the time I get to 10:30 like it is now, I'm done. If I could install some microchip in that would allow me to think a blog and have it instantly post, we'd be knee-deep in posts. :)
oops...time to switch over the last load of laundry for the day.
Ten!
Several months ago, we decided to breed Riley again, so about a week ago, we added TEN puppies to the house. They just kept coming, and coming, and coming. When we got to around eight, we thought we were close to done, and then another...and another. Six boys, four girls and (like a proud mama) they're all perfect.
They recently opened their eyes, and they're starting to figure out walking. It's fun to watch them do new things and start looking like dogs and not so much like gerbils. (ew)
Riley is starting to want to go outside more, and is getting brave enough to leave them for a few minutes, so today when I came downstairs to do (yet another) load of laundry, I found her in our room on the dog bed. I figured she was just wanting a break and something more comfortable to lay on. She jumped off the dog bed and ran to the door, so I was excited to see her wanting to go outside after being away from the puppies for a while already. After a bit in the sunshine, she came back in. She jumped into the baby pool where all the puppies are, and quickly snatched up one and tried to take it out of the pool. I made her put it back, and told her they had to stay there. And then I realized...there were only NINE in the pool. "WHERE IS TEN???"
I didn't see any bumps in the blanket, so I knew no one was trapped under, but fortunately I was able to think clearly and quickly and remebered she was in on the dog bed. Sure enough, there he was...all curled up and sleeping. It was like I was freaking out as if I had lost one of my own children, but for weeks and weeks, these little guys take a lot of my time, and I get really attached to them. I just didn't know what to think when one was missing...before the time they can escape on their own.
Picture of sweet puppies to come soon. :) (If you're friends with me on Facebook, you've already seen them.)
They recently opened their eyes, and they're starting to figure out walking. It's fun to watch them do new things and start looking like dogs and not so much like gerbils. (ew)
Riley is starting to want to go outside more, and is getting brave enough to leave them for a few minutes, so today when I came downstairs to do (yet another) load of laundry, I found her in our room on the dog bed. I figured she was just wanting a break and something more comfortable to lay on. She jumped off the dog bed and ran to the door, so I was excited to see her wanting to go outside after being away from the puppies for a while already. After a bit in the sunshine, she came back in. She jumped into the baby pool where all the puppies are, and quickly snatched up one and tried to take it out of the pool. I made her put it back, and told her they had to stay there. And then I realized...there were only NINE in the pool. "WHERE IS TEN???"
I didn't see any bumps in the blanket, so I knew no one was trapped under, but fortunately I was able to think clearly and quickly and remebered she was in on the dog bed. Sure enough, there he was...all curled up and sleeping. It was like I was freaking out as if I had lost one of my own children, but for weeks and weeks, these little guys take a lot of my time, and I get really attached to them. I just didn't know what to think when one was missing...before the time they can escape on their own.
Picture of sweet puppies to come soon. :) (If you're friends with me on Facebook, you've already seen them.)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
eWomen
Ah, the feeling of returning from a wonderful weekend away... I had the opportunity to go with a few friends to the eWomen conference in Lynchburg. It was ah-mazing. With speakers like Jennifer Rothschild, Sarah Palin, Julie Clinton, Lysa TerKeurst, Donna VanLiere, bands like Jeremy Camp and Meredith Andrews, how could it not be?
I just love weekends like this. It's time to not chase, not be up and down, not be interrupted, but sit and listen to amazing women share their faith stories and inspirations. As usual, there is so much stirring around in my head, way too much to write down or even totally understand yet. I feel I walked away with more direction towards a vision God has been putting in my heart for the past several years than I have before. And I'm really excited about that. It's not something I can open up and share about now because it's still so fresh and developing.
Another thing I spent a lot of time thinking about is the kids. And gosh, there are so many things out to get our kids. From movies without good values, commercials, people with ill intentions, and the list goes on. It's just plain scary. I feel old saying this, but it's true...things just aren't the same as they used to be. And sure, my parents had issues to deal with and fears to face, things to guide us through, but it seems those things that once weren't common are everywhere now.
The other day Kaylee covered her face in orange marker. It was kind of funny and cute, but then I asked her why she did it. I wanted to be more pretty, Mommy. Wow. My four-year-old is already thinking she needs to look better than she does. Now no, we're not entering into counseling and freaking out...it was, of course, funny, but the truth of the matter is when I was four those things never entered my head. I will, however, be teaching her the proper application of makeup as opposed to marker. Ahem. ;)
Every mom has visions for their kids. I'd have to say I don't totally have that entire vision thought out. They're young and so is the vision. But one thing I know and am firm on is I want my girls to grow up knowing who they are and being secure in that. I want them to stand firm in their faith. They have a daddy who tells them every day they are beautiful. I want them to settle for nothing less than God's best for them...especially when it comes to boys. They're young though, so I'm not going to worry about that now...we're just going to get through kindergarden first.
And Logan...my little Logan...I want him to grow up being a gentleman. I'll never forget a time, about four years ago, I was walking out of a Wendy's and a young boy (maybe 8-ish) held the door open for me. His parents weren't right there, so it wasn't something he was told to do. He just did it because obviously he had grown up being taught how to be a gentleman. I thought to myself, That's the kind of boy I want. Above all, I want Logan to be a man of God. I want him to be a defender of his sisters. And I want him to stand up to other boys who may not be doing the right thing and speak truth and the right thing to them.
I want my kids to be difference makers.
I want teachers to see the Dolan name on a roster and be overjoyed. Yes, I'd love them to all be smart, at the top of their class, good at everything, but really, that's not the ultimate goal. I want those teachers to see my kid's names and be excited because my kids are truthful, respectful, friends to the friendless, attentive.
And after this weekend, I am thankful. So, so thankful.
One of the speakers told a story that really touched me. When she was 8, she got an Easter dress she couldn't wait to wear. So one night, she put it on, fixed her hair the best she could, and went to find her dad. She stood beside him and did her best to get his attention. All she wanted was for him to notice her and tell her she looked pretty.
The only response she got was the one she always got from him, "I never wanted you. I never wanted kids."
My kids will never, ever know anything close to that feeling. Their daddy adores them. He never fails to tell them how proud he is of them, and takes time to do things with and for them.
While I was gone (for ONLY one night) here are a few things Adam did with the kids:
He took them to Eli's, a fun place filled with bounce houses.
They ate at McDonald's, which is a super fun treat they LOVE.
They went to the book fair and each got to pick out a new book.
They went to a pumpkin patch, did a corn maze, and rode a little train.
They spent time with Adam's parents and aunt and uncle.
He took them to the Dollar Store...although I'm not quite sure what they did there.
Then the big kids finished off the time spending the night with Adam's parents, a frequent weekend adventure.
I'd say they had a *bit* of fun.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to share a little more about what the speakers shared this weekend. I'd also love to share pictures, but sadly I forgot my camera and the camera on my phone doesn't take good long distance pictures. Everyone looks like blurry little dots. But maybe if I'm ambitious and get the pictures off my phone I'll share one just for fun.
I just love weekends like this. It's time to not chase, not be up and down, not be interrupted, but sit and listen to amazing women share their faith stories and inspirations. As usual, there is so much stirring around in my head, way too much to write down or even totally understand yet. I feel I walked away with more direction towards a vision God has been putting in my heart for the past several years than I have before. And I'm really excited about that. It's not something I can open up and share about now because it's still so fresh and developing.
Another thing I spent a lot of time thinking about is the kids. And gosh, there are so many things out to get our kids. From movies without good values, commercials, people with ill intentions, and the list goes on. It's just plain scary. I feel old saying this, but it's true...things just aren't the same as they used to be. And sure, my parents had issues to deal with and fears to face, things to guide us through, but it seems those things that once weren't common are everywhere now.
The other day Kaylee covered her face in orange marker. It was kind of funny and cute, but then I asked her why she did it. I wanted to be more pretty, Mommy. Wow. My four-year-old is already thinking she needs to look better than she does. Now no, we're not entering into counseling and freaking out...it was, of course, funny, but the truth of the matter is when I was four those things never entered my head. I will, however, be teaching her the proper application of makeup as opposed to marker. Ahem. ;)
Every mom has visions for their kids. I'd have to say I don't totally have that entire vision thought out. They're young and so is the vision. But one thing I know and am firm on is I want my girls to grow up knowing who they are and being secure in that. I want them to stand firm in their faith. They have a daddy who tells them every day they are beautiful. I want them to settle for nothing less than God's best for them...especially when it comes to boys. They're young though, so I'm not going to worry about that now...we're just going to get through kindergarden first.
And Logan...my little Logan...I want him to grow up being a gentleman. I'll never forget a time, about four years ago, I was walking out of a Wendy's and a young boy (maybe 8-ish) held the door open for me. His parents weren't right there, so it wasn't something he was told to do. He just did it because obviously he had grown up being taught how to be a gentleman. I thought to myself, That's the kind of boy I want. Above all, I want Logan to be a man of God. I want him to be a defender of his sisters. And I want him to stand up to other boys who may not be doing the right thing and speak truth and the right thing to them.
I want my kids to be difference makers.
I want teachers to see the Dolan name on a roster and be overjoyed. Yes, I'd love them to all be smart, at the top of their class, good at everything, but really, that's not the ultimate goal. I want those teachers to see my kid's names and be excited because my kids are truthful, respectful, friends to the friendless, attentive.
And after this weekend, I am thankful. So, so thankful.
One of the speakers told a story that really touched me. When she was 8, she got an Easter dress she couldn't wait to wear. So one night, she put it on, fixed her hair the best she could, and went to find her dad. She stood beside him and did her best to get his attention. All she wanted was for him to notice her and tell her she looked pretty.
The only response she got was the one she always got from him, "I never wanted you. I never wanted kids."
My kids will never, ever know anything close to that feeling. Their daddy adores them. He never fails to tell them how proud he is of them, and takes time to do things with and for them.
While I was gone (for ONLY one night) here are a few things Adam did with the kids:
He took them to Eli's, a fun place filled with bounce houses.
They ate at McDonald's, which is a super fun treat they LOVE.
They went to the book fair and each got to pick out a new book.
They went to a pumpkin patch, did a corn maze, and rode a little train.
They spent time with Adam's parents and aunt and uncle.
He took them to the Dollar Store...although I'm not quite sure what they did there.
Then the big kids finished off the time spending the night with Adam's parents, a frequent weekend adventure.
I'd say they had a *bit* of fun.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to share a little more about what the speakers shared this weekend. I'd also love to share pictures, but sadly I forgot my camera and the camera on my phone doesn't take good long distance pictures. Everyone looks like blurry little dots. But maybe if I'm ambitious and get the pictures off my phone I'll share one just for fun.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Just So Thankful
Today is just an ordinary day, but I'm just so thankful.
...the weather is beautiful.
...I have an amazing husband.
...my kids are healthy.
...I have a few wonderful friends.
I don't know really how to describe it, but the past few days I've just been overwhelmed with being thankful. Do you ever have days like that? Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, but I'm just so thankful. It's a good place to be.
...the weather is beautiful.
...I have an amazing husband.
...my kids are healthy.
...I have a few wonderful friends.
I don't know really how to describe it, but the past few days I've just been overwhelmed with being thankful. Do you ever have days like that? Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, but I'm just so thankful. It's a good place to be.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Remembering 9-11
I've been trying to think of just the right words to capture yesterday, the 10-year anniversary of 9-11. It's a day that conjures up many emotions to Americans. It was a day of remembering. A day of rebuilding. A day of being thankful. It was also a day of bringing back images and sounds of that horrific day.
343 - The number of firefighters that gave their lives as they tried to save others. Ask any firefighter I know, and it's just part of the job...the calling. They don't think of themselves as heros, and they often don't get the recognition they deserve.
343...
If you look at the other numbers, there was no other group that lost near that. They ran in, while so many ran away.
It was said yesterday that a firefighter is in the wrong place at the wrong time with the right stuff.
Yesterday, Adam's station dedicated a piece of the North Tower. It was a humbling time just to think of what that steel saw, felt, was witness to.
The memorial 20/20 where they showed the children of 9-11 victims who were unborn at the time had me sobbing. I simply can't imagine looking at my child, seeing their daddy in their eyes, and knowing they will never know him. So last night, I held my firefighter just a little closer, a little longer, a little tighter.
343...you will never be forgotten.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Picture Day
Yesterday, before the rain started, I decided to take advantage of the overcast-ness and snap a few pictures. Might as well have been pulling teeth. How on earth do people get their kids to stand still for two seconds to get good pictures, I ask??
I decided to do some individual pictures first, thinking if I only had one kid outside at a time, they could "focus" better. Haha. Good thought. I tend to picture how I want things to go, but they rarely turn out that way.
I bribed.
I bribed.
I bribed.
And I clicked the button really fast...
Here are a few of Logan. I thought he was going to do really well, when he ran out under the tree and smiled. It lasted about that long... Two seconds later, and he was running around the yard, being a crazy two-year-old. Sigh...at least maybe I got one picture. :)
By the time Adam brought Samantha out, my plans were out the window. :) Here are a few more...
Outtakes...there are more, but here is a sample. :)
I decided to do some individual pictures first, thinking if I only had one kid outside at a time, they could "focus" better. Haha. Good thought. I tend to picture how I want things to go, but they rarely turn out that way.
I bribed.
I bribed.
I bribed.
And I clicked the button really fast...
Here are a few of Logan. I thought he was going to do really well, when he ran out under the tree and smiled. It lasted about that long... Two seconds later, and he was running around the yard, being a crazy two-year-old. Sigh...at least maybe I got one picture. :)
By the time Adam brought Samantha out, my plans were out the window. :) Here are a few more...
Outtakes...there are more, but here is a sample. :)
Saturday, September 3, 2011
And She Crawls!
Over the past few days, Samantha has learned to crawl forward, and today she is really catching on. While I was putting the big kids to bed, I had her in her room playing with some toys, and the next thing I knew, she was out in the hall. By the time I was praying with Kaylee, Samantha was right beside me. Kaylee was laughing so hard she could hardly pray. It was hard for me to keep a straight face, too. Annnnnd...not only has she learned to go forward, today she decide to go from laying down to sitting up on her own, and boy was she proud of herself. I just love it when my kids discover they can do something-those smiles are priceless.
We still have the "for sale" sign in our front yard...I can't wait for the day when it has a little sign on top that says, "Sold!" I know God has it all planned out, His timing is perfect, and I don't need to worry about it, but the wait is hard. We have an open house the first weekend of October, so (if anyone still reads this blog) keep that weekend in your prayers.
Everytime I come back and post something, all I can think of is how far behind I am. I really enjoy blogging, but I have to stop feeling guilty about it. So thanks to anyone who still reads...I appreciate it. I'll post pictures soon...you know, once they get from the camera to the computer. haha...
We still have the "for sale" sign in our front yard...I can't wait for the day when it has a little sign on top that says, "Sold!" I know God has it all planned out, His timing is perfect, and I don't need to worry about it, but the wait is hard. We have an open house the first weekend of October, so (if anyone still reads this blog) keep that weekend in your prayers.
Everytime I come back and post something, all I can think of is how far behind I am. I really enjoy blogging, but I have to stop feeling guilty about it. So thanks to anyone who still reads...I appreciate it. I'll post pictures soon...you know, once they get from the camera to the computer. haha...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Fall Is On Its Way!
I love the fall...cool mornings, hot cup of coffee beside me (okay, I do that all the time), walking around the neighborhood and not feeling like I'm going to die ( :-) ), pumpkin picking, all the smells of fall. MMM, I just love it.
This fall, Logan will be turning 3 and Samantha will be turning 1. Where has the time gone? Logan is really starting to develop his language skills. It has been so fun to watch him turn into a clear speaker with such a large vocabulary. Of course, with his older sister around, an extensive vocabulary is to be expected. He continues to love cars, trucks, trains, tractors, pretty much any mode of transportation. In fact, he loves the Match Box cars so much, we have to limit his trips to Target. Sigh. He thinks he needs a new one each time we go there, and of course we don't do that, so to avoid a big meltdown, we just avoid taking him into Target.
Samantha is such a great baby. She sleeps so well during the night (finally!), and takes great naps during the day. She loves to eat and play, and is so easily entertained. Her big milestone she is working on is crawling, but she doesn't really know it. You see, all she can do is go in circles or scoot backward. It's pretty funny. She tends to get herself stuck under the couch quite often. She can get up on her hands and knees and rock back and forth really well, and she could certianly crawl if she wanted, but she just hasn't figured it out. Oh, and by the way, I'm fine with that. I can clean one room really well to make sure there aren't choking hazards, and I know she will stay in that room. Once she starts crawling, I might have to bring out the circular gate to keep her safe and contained. Kaylee is great about watching her and not letting her put things in her mouth, but I wouldn't put that responsibility on her for more than a few minutes. :)
I also recently started selling Tupperware, and I love it. Since I'm home all the time with the kids, it's nice to have something to get out of the house and hang out with people and make a little money while doing it. (I can ship it anywhere, so if anyone wants to place an order, leave a comment with email, and I can send links and info.)
Well, it's late and I don't even know what I just wrote, but I hate to go so long without blogging. I am hoping to get into a routine soon...haha.
This fall, Logan will be turning 3 and Samantha will be turning 1. Where has the time gone? Logan is really starting to develop his language skills. It has been so fun to watch him turn into a clear speaker with such a large vocabulary. Of course, with his older sister around, an extensive vocabulary is to be expected. He continues to love cars, trucks, trains, tractors, pretty much any mode of transportation. In fact, he loves the Match Box cars so much, we have to limit his trips to Target. Sigh. He thinks he needs a new one each time we go there, and of course we don't do that, so to avoid a big meltdown, we just avoid taking him into Target.
Samantha is such a great baby. She sleeps so well during the night (finally!), and takes great naps during the day. She loves to eat and play, and is so easily entertained. Her big milestone she is working on is crawling, but she doesn't really know it. You see, all she can do is go in circles or scoot backward. It's pretty funny. She tends to get herself stuck under the couch quite often. She can get up on her hands and knees and rock back and forth really well, and she could certianly crawl if she wanted, but she just hasn't figured it out. Oh, and by the way, I'm fine with that. I can clean one room really well to make sure there aren't choking hazards, and I know she will stay in that room. Once she starts crawling, I might have to bring out the circular gate to keep her safe and contained. Kaylee is great about watching her and not letting her put things in her mouth, but I wouldn't put that responsibility on her for more than a few minutes. :)
I also recently started selling Tupperware, and I love it. Since I'm home all the time with the kids, it's nice to have something to get out of the house and hang out with people and make a little money while doing it. (I can ship it anywhere, so if anyone wants to place an order, leave a comment with email, and I can send links and info.)
Well, it's late and I don't even know what I just wrote, but I hate to go so long without blogging. I am hoping to get into a routine soon...haha.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
New Post
Sorry for the lame title. I tried to think of something good, and couldn't. So I settled on that to move on...
Oy, we have been so busy around here, I don't even know where to start. With the house on the market, I spend so much time keeping it as tidy as I can with kids and dogs. Adam has been working as much overtime as he can. One week, I think he worked something like 111 hours!
Next week we'll be going to the beach, and I am sooo looking forward to it. I think we all need a vacation. We had earlier decided we wouldn't go to the beach this year with Samantha being so little, but then Dana, one of my best friends, invited us to stay with them, so we couldn't pass it up. The kids loved the beach the last times we have gone, so I am sure they will be super excited to go AND have friends to play with. Now all I have to do is shop for the trip, pack, and get the house spotless just in case someone wants to look at it while we are gone. It would actually be a great time since we won't have to plan an outing.
Speaking of out...boy is it HOT out! It is forcasted to be at least 101 on Friday! Not sure what we'll do, but I'm hoping it will be mainly inside. I am just not a fan of melting, and neither is Sam.
Well, just a short post tonight to let any readers out there know we're still alive...busy, but alive. :)
Oy, we have been so busy around here, I don't even know where to start. With the house on the market, I spend so much time keeping it as tidy as I can with kids and dogs. Adam has been working as much overtime as he can. One week, I think he worked something like 111 hours!
Next week we'll be going to the beach, and I am sooo looking forward to it. I think we all need a vacation. We had earlier decided we wouldn't go to the beach this year with Samantha being so little, but then Dana, one of my best friends, invited us to stay with them, so we couldn't pass it up. The kids loved the beach the last times we have gone, so I am sure they will be super excited to go AND have friends to play with. Now all I have to do is shop for the trip, pack, and get the house spotless just in case someone wants to look at it while we are gone. It would actually be a great time since we won't have to plan an outing.
Speaking of out...boy is it HOT out! It is forcasted to be at least 101 on Friday! Not sure what we'll do, but I'm hoping it will be mainly inside. I am just not a fan of melting, and neither is Sam.
Well, just a short post tonight to let any readers out there know we're still alive...busy, but alive. :)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Where to Begin?
As the trend goes, it has been forever since I've posted. The days just get away too quickly. For starters, our house is now on the market. Yeah...big news, I guess. We have been here since we were married, and recently decided it was time for a bigger house. It has officially been listed for a little over a week, and we've had three showings (I think...not sure if the last people came or not...). We have looked at several houses and are keeping a close eye on the market for something that might work.
Ironically, the few houses we were pretty serious about wanting sold. Instead of being sad about it, we take it as a clear sign they were not the houses for us. So the search continues. We can't really do anything until this one sells, so there isn't really a rush. And although it is a lot of work, the nice thing is my house is almost always clean! We have a bunch of stuff packed up that we don't need right now, and the goal is to be able to clean top to bottom in less than an hour. Yesterday we clocked in at 40 minutes, including dishes, vacuuming, picking up toys, scooping the yard, cleaning the bathrooms, and other various cleaning things. Not too shabby, huh? They're supposed to give us 24 hours before a showing, but yesterday it was around 3. It was our choice to still show, but we don't feel it's a smart market to turn down a showing unless we absolutely HAVE to.
In other big news, I'm an aunt! Megan and Justin welcomed sweet Emory Lane on Thursday. She has a full head of dark hair-currently much more than Samantha has right now. The kids are excited about having a cousin. Sam seemed really excited, too. When we showed Emory to her, she spit out her binkey. I think she was going to kiss her...or taste her.
The kids keep getting one cold after another. It's getting to be enough of that. I have vitamins for them to take, but they don't seem to really make a difference. Any other suggestions to keep away the colds?
Yesterday I did a little photo shoot with Sam. I had been meaning to for a long time, so I just did it. The time of day wasn't right, so the lighting was all wrong, and I knew it when I was doing it, but she was being so good, as usual, so we continued. I'll try again to get actual good pictures.
Speaking of cameras...sort of...I have a Canon Digital Rebel with the add on battery pack that takes 6 AA batteries. I use rechargeable ones, but they seem to not be working great anymore. Does anyone know if the actual add on battery holder could need to be replaced, or do you think it's the batteries??
Okay, enough with words, let's have some pictures. That's the best part anyway, right? In no particular order...
Well...more pictures later. It seems to not want to upload today.
Ironically, the few houses we were pretty serious about wanting sold. Instead of being sad about it, we take it as a clear sign they were not the houses for us. So the search continues. We can't really do anything until this one sells, so there isn't really a rush. And although it is a lot of work, the nice thing is my house is almost always clean! We have a bunch of stuff packed up that we don't need right now, and the goal is to be able to clean top to bottom in less than an hour. Yesterday we clocked in at 40 minutes, including dishes, vacuuming, picking up toys, scooping the yard, cleaning the bathrooms, and other various cleaning things. Not too shabby, huh? They're supposed to give us 24 hours before a showing, but yesterday it was around 3. It was our choice to still show, but we don't feel it's a smart market to turn down a showing unless we absolutely HAVE to.
In other big news, I'm an aunt! Megan and Justin welcomed sweet Emory Lane on Thursday. She has a full head of dark hair-currently much more than Samantha has right now. The kids are excited about having a cousin. Sam seemed really excited, too. When we showed Emory to her, she spit out her binkey. I think she was going to kiss her...or taste her.
The kids keep getting one cold after another. It's getting to be enough of that. I have vitamins for them to take, but they don't seem to really make a difference. Any other suggestions to keep away the colds?
Yesterday I did a little photo shoot with Sam. I had been meaning to for a long time, so I just did it. The time of day wasn't right, so the lighting was all wrong, and I knew it when I was doing it, but she was being so good, as usual, so we continued. I'll try again to get actual good pictures.
Speaking of cameras...sort of...I have a Canon Digital Rebel with the add on battery pack that takes 6 AA batteries. I use rechargeable ones, but they seem to not be working great anymore. Does anyone know if the actual add on battery holder could need to be replaced, or do you think it's the batteries??
Okay, enough with words, let's have some pictures. That's the best part anyway, right? In no particular order...
Well...more pictures later. It seems to not want to upload today.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
In a Week
This week I was asked if all the kids were mine.
Yes, they are all mine. There really are only three, even though it sounds like more.
Two days later, I was asked by someone when we were going to give Logan a brother. Hmmm.
This week has been a doozy; I don't even know where to start. Hopefully soon I'll have some time to compose my thoughts a little clearer. Right now...not so much. Let's just say I'm thankful. I'm overwhelmed. I'm excited. I'm preparing. I'm praying. I'm waiting. Oh, and I'm doing laundry...just in case you were wondering.
Yes, they are all mine. There really are only three, even though it sounds like more.
Two days later, I was asked by someone when we were going to give Logan a brother. Hmmm.
This week has been a doozy; I don't even know where to start. Hopefully soon I'll have some time to compose my thoughts a little clearer. Right now...not so much. Let's just say I'm thankful. I'm overwhelmed. I'm excited. I'm preparing. I'm praying. I'm waiting. Oh, and I'm doing laundry...just in case you were wondering.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Just a Quick Post
Just a quick post tonight because I think that's all I can muster after today/this week.
Although we've had some *moments,* the past few days have been so much better with Kaylee. I have been trying to really pay attention to how often she is eating and basically making her snack if she seems to be on edge. I was talking with Adam about it and letting him know we need to pay more attention to that. (Thanks for the suggestion Liz and Jenny.)
He asked if I thought maybe that was part of it, and I said, "Well, I know how I get when I don't eat..." Haha... Let's just say that is a great possibility for her if it runs in the family. It took Adam a while to stop laughing so we could continue the conversation.
I have always been one to prepare her for what we're doing. If we're going somewhere, I let her know. I try to make sure she understands my expectations of her, and I am trying to do that more often as well.
We've done charts, but they quickly fizzle. I think it's a combination of me not following through all the time and her choosing her will over what she wants to do. I have a few ideas we might try to help keep this improvment going.
Finally, I have to keep constantly checking my expectations. I will always hold to high expectations and standards for my kids, but Kaylee is so beyond four, that I often have to remind myself that she is four. Just four. And.I.love.her.
Although we've had some *moments,* the past few days have been so much better with Kaylee. I have been trying to really pay attention to how often she is eating and basically making her snack if she seems to be on edge. I was talking with Adam about it and letting him know we need to pay more attention to that. (Thanks for the suggestion Liz and Jenny.)
He asked if I thought maybe that was part of it, and I said, "Well, I know how I get when I don't eat..." Haha... Let's just say that is a great possibility for her if it runs in the family. It took Adam a while to stop laughing so we could continue the conversation.
I have always been one to prepare her for what we're doing. If we're going somewhere, I let her know. I try to make sure she understands my expectations of her, and I am trying to do that more often as well.
We've done charts, but they quickly fizzle. I think it's a combination of me not following through all the time and her choosing her will over what she wants to do. I have a few ideas we might try to help keep this improvment going.
Finally, I have to keep constantly checking my expectations. I will always hold to high expectations and standards for my kids, but Kaylee is so beyond four, that I often have to remind myself that she is four. Just four. And.I.love.her.
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