A good friend of mine brought a copy of the sheet music to several of us at church and wanted us to learn this beautiful song. So we gave it a shot... I had no idea when I first saw the song.... how awesome the lyrics would be! So beautiful! Take the 5 minutes that it will take you and listen to it....and really absorb the message. This should brighten your day and reset your focus about what is truly important. Have a great afternoon!
How can it be that all my babies are growing up so fast? This little precious boy is ready to head to the next step....one more step away from being my baby boy! Yikes!
Parker just came walking into me in the study diaperless and wondering what he should do? Of course I quickly found the diaper that he had removed on his own and found a little surprise, and then on the potty I found another surprise, and he very quickly got a clean diaper from his Mama. I couldn't help but chuckle and of course I praised him for wanting to go to the potty....but tried to explain that you only take the diaper off if Mama knows you are doing it.
I guess it is time to start the potty training. Any suggestions for boys? It makes me nervous...and I have put it off so long because I guess I just don't want him to grow up yet. But I know .... it IS time!
Here is the even more funny part of the story from above....all morning the kids have been watching episodes of Jon and Kate plus 8. Parker had been sitting watching an episode on Kate potty training the kids.....and when I missed him.....guess where I found him? Who says kids don't pay attention? He definitely was and he AIN'T no dummy! :)
So, we finally got back home last night. Our plane landed in B'ham safely and we began the trip home. We had a FABULOUS time! We had such great FAMILY time! We tried not to worry about work, internet, phones, bills, whatever....and just tried to have fun and relax! We had a few obstacles....but what family vacation wouldn't have obstacles?
We are tired, but in a good way! Today, I have several things I could be doing....but I decided that since I have only two days left with the girls for Fall Break....who cares! We need to spend time together! I want to spend time with them....after reading my good friend Telah's blog this morning.....I had a few tears and re-focused a little.
Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. Of course, there is much more to share a little later. Enjoy!
On the airplane....and the kids are just excited to be on the airplane for the first time. They keep asking....how are we going to get to school this morning? This is at about 6:45am....notice it is still dark outside.
The girls just opened their gifts and found out we are going to Disney World. More of that story later...
Had these shirts made for them to wear on the trip down to Disney.
Finally! We have arrived!
More later!
First, let me say....WOW! Sorry it has been so long since I posted! Time just flies by around here these days!
I know this is a few days late and that I actually should have posted this last Saturday...but better late than never. College football season is here and I can't tell you how happy that makes our family! Shane's countdown to the first Alabama football game of the 2008-09 season began back February....I think :)
I will admit that growing up I was never a sports nut...did not care too much for any sport...however, Shane has converted me to a Crimson Tide fan. There are a few other teams that I root for....like Marshall University and I love me some Indiana Hoosiers basketball!
So for the Labor Day weekend we were in Huntington, WV...which is normally where we travel on the Labor Day weekend each year for a little family get together....my aunt has season tickets to the Marshall football games....and everyone was going....so we decided to give it a try this time. Normally, Shane goes with my aunt and all the family and I stay behind with the kiddos. We decided that this year all of the kids were old enough and could handle it...so we were going to give it a try.
Daddy's little man!
The girls with their cousin Koral.
This was the first college football game that my kiddos have attended and despite the heat and all the walking....they did GREAT!
I love this boy!!!
Kennedy did not get in the above picture because she was too busy crying because she could not stand by Koral. So I got a picture of just the two of them...and that seemed to make her happy!
We had a BLAST! Especially Parker....who has now learned how to say TOUCHDOWN and FOOTBALL!
Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to share from the BAMA games yet. We are hoping to get to travel to Tuscaloosa for a couple this season and you can bet if we do I will have lots of pictures to share with you. However, if you are a CRIMSON TIDE FAN...you will want to visit Cheryl's Blog .... which is all about ALABAMA FOOTBALL!
I am still amazed everyday at the things my children are interested in and their talents! I am so proud of them! I wanted to let you all read a short little story that Mallory wrote sometime last school year. I attended a meeting the other morning with one of her teachers and I was given copies of some of her work samples. I had not remembered seeing or reading these particular pieces before and I started laughing out loud when I read this one. My sweet little Mallory is a great student and really seems to love school! She is so helpful and eager to learn new things. She is an awesome kid! I love you MalMal!
Sea Lions
by Mallory
I really am fascinated by sea lions because they are big cuddly sea creatures that have personality and look like they would be friendly and fun to play with.
I really want to do some more research to know more about them and their habitats because they are so unusual and different from the dolphins and whales.
I would like to have one for a pet but that just won't work because my Mother would scream her head off.
Our day has been a lot of things...but on a schedule is not one of those things! :)
For whatever reason, all three of my children have snotty noses and a slight cough. Now, I might expect my school age girls to catch a little bug during the beginning of the school year. Why is it that my 2 year old is the worst one and running fever today? :) Poor little man! I hate it when he feels bad...because when he does sometimes there is no consoling him...no matter what you try to do to help.
So, I scratched trying the new schedule...and just tried to take it one hour at a time.
As for #5...I am working on it and still have a lot to learn. But as of right now, I am REALLY enjoying a new little toy we got a few days ago.
We finally took the plunge and decided to purchase this little number:
Of course, whenever I get a free second or two...I start snapping. I have pretty much been shooting in automatic mode and have a lot to learn about everything with this camera! However, even with a rookie like me...I think I got some pretty good shots over the last day or so and thought I would share them. So be prepared to see a ton of pictures of my kiddos!
I think this picture about says it all! :)
Remember this post? Well, it has taken me a little time...but I finally am posting some pictures from my brother's wedding back in June. It was definitely a memorable day with all the weather related inconveniences....but still a great day!
I am definitely a person who likes to combine and conquer as many things as I can into one project...and that is what you get in the pictures below. Not only am I finally getting to post what I had promised weeks ago...but I am catching up on my memory keeping too. I have finally been able to somewhat conquer my severe "OCD" about having to scrapbook chronologically....or even that every picture must make it to a scrapbook...or that each scrapbook has to be made in a tradition 12x12 album.... So, now that I have been able to try some new things in my scrapbooking....it has been amazing at how much more I can accomplish in my few spare minutes each day. Also, the fact that I have been gravitating toward doing more digital pages helps too....they are SOOOOO simple and easy for me to complete!
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| Make a Smilebox scrapbook |
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| Make a Smilebox greeting |
So if you remember my post from the other day....it listed 5 goals of mine to complete and then I will tackle the next 5?
As you can see...I have succeeded in at least beginning a process...not to say that I don't have room to improve and will continue to move forward on these items. #1...well, that will always be my first and foremost area to improve upon....so it will never be crossed off the list. I have started and we are working towards #2 and #5 and I will post about them tomorrow with some photos I took this afternoon and a new schedule that we are going to begin tomorrow. So check back for that info!
Have a great evening everyone!
How cute is this? Couldn't resist getting a picture of my little man!
Let me just start by saying that I am a LIST maker! I feel most organized and able to complete projects if I have a list made in my handy little notebook that I carry around everywhere I go. I started to post yesterday and get back on track with Thursday Thirteen...and I will get back to that next week...but decided that thirteen items in this next list was a little too much to start of with for me. In the meantime, I wanted to share some thoughts with you about my goals for the near future. Hear me out....don't go clicking that red X up in the top right corner of your screen and telling me goodbye just yet. :)
Life is a balancing act. Wow! I know that the first statement comes as a real shock to most of you. However, it has taken me 33 years, 4 months, and 1 day to learn this very important lesson! I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and I am trying to do some self-renovating (is that a word?) I have said all summer...as soon as I get both girls settled into the school routine...there are many things I want to focus on for myself. So now that we have completed our first full week of the school year...I think it is time to begin! I know most people set goals in January...but I have chosen to start fresh now....a new school year for my girls and a new year for me too!
Yesterday I was going to list 13 goals that I have set for myself to accomplish during the first semester of this new school year. My goal is to have these things accomplished, active and working, or just plain finished by Christmas time. Do you think I will make it? :) After contemplating that for a long time....I decided to break it up into smaller, more attainable lists. I don't want to feel overwhelmed! I don't want to bite off more than I can chew (which is usually what I do :) ) So, for today I thought I would share the first five goals I have set. As I complete things or begin to see them working well....I will mark them off and list a new 5!
I believe we all have room for improvement in our lives...even in what seem to be the most insignificant areas... I KNOW that I do and this is just really something that I need to do for me to feel like I am improving ....but also for the good of my family. I have always used this BLOG as sort of my journal....mainly because I find it very easy to sit and type and express my thoughts. So, I plan to record and update progress on this site to help me stay on track. Here we go!
Here are the first 5 things:
I know these first five are not quite as tangible as "Make the bed everyday." But it is a starting point for me...and I am happy to say that I have already started making progress. One last thing is this: I know I am not perfect and don't think I have set unrealistic goals....these are just starting points and things I am going to try to focus and improve on one item at a time. I still will have days where I don't feel like I accomplished many if any the goals...but I can wake up the next day ready to start fresh again!
See I can go ahead put a checkmark by #4 and #3...I am back to journaling here on the ole' blog and have scrapbooked a little this week. Great start....I think!
We pulled in the driveway from school....and as soon as we got out of the van...this is what happened. Guess what? I just let them go and have fun...because one of the goals I have set for myself (which you will see in a post really soon) is to let go and just have more fun with the kids....stop worrying about laundry, making beds, cleaning the house, and just all together being too caught up in things to enjoy the simple precious moments with them!
As you can see...I definitely need to work on my photography skills...but in my defense...it is hard to hit three moving targets just right every time!
Here are some pictures from the girl's first day of school. Kennedy started kindergarten this year and it truly LOVING every minute of school! Mallory started third grade this year...is that really possible? Doesn't seem like it to me....but time has a way of flying by us....doesn't it?
Edited: Of course I made a typo....so I found out that I missed a key word in my description of our trip...see below in red to find out the missing link. Thanks Gram for pointing it out to me....it makes much more sense now when you read it! :)
Some people call this time of year summer vacation...however, I prefer summer CHAOS!
Don't get me wrong...I am being somewhat sarcastic because we have been so busy without a minute to stop and enjoy summer vacation....but I still love the summertime and all that goes with it!
I am back and will be back to blogging after this evenings events.
For those of you wondering where I have been...
We spent last week in Indiana with family and were there for my brother's wedding. And yes, we were there amongst all the rain and severe flooding...we were without power for 36 hours at one point. Humorous at times and very nerve wracking at times....like when your brother is getting married and you have no electricity to get ten people ready for pictures!!!!
If you haven't heard about the severe flooding and disasters in the Midwest....go to this link and take a look at the pictures of the flooding. There are hundreds of pictures that show southern Indiana and the devastation there. We are very lucky that it was just the power and re-routing that we had to do for the week we were there. Many others have had total loss and are really struggling right now. I will share more stories and pictures of what we saw later on.
We got home very late Sunday night and have had Vacation Bible School every night this week. I don't think we have been home before 10:30 any night this week.
So, I said all this to say....
I have tons of awesome pictures and stories to share about the wedding and some other events that are happening with our family! Stay tuned!
Here is just a preview of what is to come:
Y'all have a great Thursday and be sure to check back for Thursday Thirteen....of course it may be 11:59 before I type that post!!! :)
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