I have style!

I thought you might all be happy to know that :o)  Okay, okay, let me explain.  Yesterday I had just gotten home from the grocery store when the doorbell rang.  It happened to be the decorator for our builder and she had pictures from various model homes and was selling them insanely cheap.  She wondered if we had any wall space we needed to fill——YES WE DO!!  So, I summoned Clark and we went out and looked and selected 3 pieces we liked.  We brought them in the house and tried them out (with the decorator’s help) and really liked them in the downstairs living area.  We brought in 2 different pieces to try over the fire place.  Clark liked one and I liked another one.  I was so excited about the possibility of mine working b/c it had RED in it and guess what CLARK’S WORKED BETTER!  Okay, I have to give him kuddos—he has an eye for what works where!  And then we also chose pictures of Jackson Square and Bourbon Street to complete our “French Country” style look.  I’ve never known what my style was other than we’ve always seemed to have hodge podge!  And we completed the look with a big mirror!  I love how it just pulled this room together.  I had so much fun sitting down here last night with just the spotlihgt on my new fireplace picture and the warm glows it cast about.

So there it is — for those of you who thought I might have been a lost cause —- I do have style!!  LOL!

Let the reading begin!!

Yesterday, we went to a nearby library for a story hour for Payton’s age.  It was cute, but geared to the really young.  They did a lot of rhymes, singing and there were some puppets so P. was in her glory.  I even saw Shealyn and Carter participating, but knew they would be bored with this in no time.  So, our plan was to go back in the afternoon for a story hour more appropriate for their age, but we didn’t.  They had a big water event planned that evening at VBS so we decided to opt out of the story hour and just veg out for the afternoon.  But, while we were there for P’s story hour we signed up for the summer reading program.  You get awards for reading a minimum of 20 minutes for 10 days and then in 10 day increments after that.  Let me tell you, Carter has jumped in head first on this.  The boy has already logged an hour of reading in the last 24 hours and he’s been up in his room now for at least an hour reading.  He wants the prizes and even more than that — in his non competitive manner — he wants to beat Shealyn!  Go Carter!  I don’t have the heart to tell him this is over the course of 10 days and there’s no way I’m going to tell him he can’t read!!  I’ll keep you posted on the reading contest that seems to have evolved in this household.

Oh yeah, the last night of VBS and the water event were a huge hit.  I’ve heard bits and pieces all day long and how much fun it was.

 

A couple of fish in a big pond

So, after getting mostly unpacked (just down to the miscellaneous things that need to find their place) I’ve decided this week we would get out and find some things to do.  We ventured out to get a mom task done on Monday (get my new license and plates) which ends up being pretty involved and didn’t happen.  Anyway, after that and lunch with daddy we made our way south to find a splash park I had found.  Well, much to our dismay it was not working, operating or open (not sure which word to insert).  Go figure, it was 100 degrees and there was NO water.  Anyway, with 3 disappointed kids and a disappointed mommy we came home. 

 We chilled out for a little bit and then it was time for Shealyn and Carter to go to Vacation Bible School.  We had attended a church the day before and it just happened that their VBS was starting the next day, so we signed them up.  I was reminded by my friend Kelly that VBS was how we met them and what a good opportunity it would be for the kids to meet other kids.  It just happened that Clark walked in as we were getting ready to leave (VBS is from 5:30-8:30) so we all piled in and took them.  Needless to say, I was apprehensive b/c I knew my kids were going to be a couple little fish in a really big pond.  I heard there were going to be 200-300 kids at this VBS.  WOW!!!!  Did I want to throw my kids into this?  I did—and the tears (I shed) and fretting were all for naught.  When Clark went to pick them up all of the kids were dancing on the chairs!  Now, how often do you get to do that anywhere let alone church?  They each came home with their own favorite moments to share and looking forward to Tuesday. 

Some reasons I’m struggling with all this change are:  1. I don’t leave my kids with just anyone.  2. My heart breaks for my kids having to be the “new” kid.  I never was one so this experience is all new to me and just tears me up for them.  Clark, on the other hand, considers himself the professional new kid and knows they’ll be just fine.  They will!  It just may be more tears on my part than theirs.

Anyway, P. has been upset b/c she can’t be part of VBS so fortunately we’ve had things to do the last 2 nights while the other 2 are having their own fun.  We had to run some errands the first night and on our way back decided to show daddy the splash park and guess what — it was working!  We stopped and let P. run through fully clothed!  The sheer joy that was etched on her face :o)  And then last night we had an invite to dinner and swimming so P. has had her own excitement—-too bad it’s home for the next two nights to get more things done.

Tomorrow, we’re off to check out story time at a nearby library.  I’ll report back after that.  I’m trying to be open minded b/c I feel I was very spoiled by Mrs. B. and the awesome job she did with the story time in HL.

 

Up and running

I know I’ve been an absent blogger as of late, but I do have a good reason, although not as good as Vic’s.  When we left Michigan and disconnected my e-mail I never changed it for my blog.  So, after e-mailing wordpress support a couple of times I’m now up and running again.

We’re Home!!

Yes, we’re home in Texas!  The trip was llloonngg, but we made it.  We were all very excited to be with daddy, therefore making for a long trip and a lot of “how much longers?’  We had to take an alternate route because of the rain and flooding going on in Indiana and Illinois so it added a couple of hours to our trip.  It was worth it to not have to detour the 100 plus miles that my father-in-law had to (he was a day ahead of us pulling the trailer).  I was immediately on edge with how it would go b/c we weren’t 60 miles into the trip and P. got sick.  It ended up being a fluke (an empty belly was the problem), but she sure used it the rest of the trip.  When she would start getting restless she would inform us that she was going to puke—-grandma and I eventually caught on to her ploy:o)  The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful.  Shealyn quizzed us on US geopgraphy and how much we knew about each state.  It was fun in chunks!  Carter was a big napper which made his trip go faster and I owe a big thank you to my mother-in-law who rode with me.  Thanks for your help with the kids and the driving; I was pretty sleepy the first day so to have another driver was great!

Now, we’re in unpacking mode and are slowly putting away boxes.  We have eliminated a lot already, but I know for a fact there’s a bathroom box floating around in the garage somewhere that I can’t find.  The kids and I have found a really awesome park, but it’s just a matter of getting there earlier b/c of the heat.  I don’t think it’s too bad, but Shealyn sure didn’t like it.  I’m sure next year I’ll be able to say we’ve adjusted to the climate:o)  Clark and I went furniture shopping over the weekend and after a long day of nothing our last stop proved successful.  We have a sectional and an entertainment center being delivered on Friday!  It’s pretty exciting to see my house coming together and to have space!

That’s the last week in a nutshell.  Hope you’ve all had a great week!

Shealyn’s last softball game

Tonight was Shealyn’s last game.  Unfortunately, it’s much harder to get pictures at her field since it’s surrounded by fence.  Here are some that I thought were the best.

Kickin a little dirt

This is a ready stance

I love this shot even though you can’t see Shealyn’s face!  Setting for the throw and M. is ready————remember that accuracy I said we need to work on with her throw?   Yeah, unfortunately it looks good, but her throw landed in the outfield :o(  Get ’em next time Shea!

T-Ball

I took the camera tonight and actually got some good pictures of Carter’s t-ball game.  Tomorrow night Shealyn and Carter both have their “last” games of the season so I’ll be at Shealyn’s and Grandma and Aunt Chelle will have Carter’s game covered.  So me and my camera will be at Shealyn’s “last” game tomorrow.  For now enjoy these.

Watching the ball in

 

Run those bases Carter

 

I asked him to show me his ready stance and this is what I got :o)

Don’t fall over….b/c I actually posted

Well, since I’ve been an absentee blogger as of late I figured I owe you all a long overdue update.

Let me see….what have we been up to you ask?  It’s spring which always seems to equate to BUSY for our family.  Carter finished up his mini soccer schedule and now both Shealyn and Carter are playing softball and T-ball respectively.  You throw their schedules in plus mine we’re gone Monday – Thursday and sometimes Saturday mornings for games.  They’re both doing really well with ball this year.  It’s always so fun to watch them from year to year and see the improvement.  Shealyn is becoming quite the slugger and really enjoys playing.  She has a strong arm, too.  We just have to work on her accuracy :o)  Carter has decided he’s going to be a switch hitter.  Although he’s left handed he just naturally stood up to the plate with a right handed stance last year, but this year it happens to be whatever he feels like when he steps up to the plate:o)

The girls have finished up dance and had their big performance over the weekend.   Payton was disappointed when it was all done; she had been counting down for so long she wasn’t quite ready for it to be done.  They both did a great job!  As a matter of fact, dance brings me to my favorite shot of the week.  I have to admit I haven’t taken many pictures lately and actually took very few of the dance recital (after years of trying to get good pictures during the recital I know the attempts are futile with my camera).  Anyway, here’s one of the girls before they took to the stage.

 

Payton finished up preschool last week and had her promotion ceremony.  She’s now officially a 4 year old preschooler!  She seems to be looking very forward to a new school, teacher and friends in Texas.  She’s such a social child so I’m really not anticipating her having a hard time.  She is driving me nuts with how many times I hear “howmanymoredaysbeforewemovetoTexasandgettoseedadddy?”  Therefore, I know she is so very excited for our new adventure!

Carter has hit a big milestone in the past 6 weeks or so.  HE GAVE UP HIS BLANKIE!!!  All on his own—-I went to get him up one morning and there lay his blankie just as I had folded it the day before.  And without his blankie he doesn’t need his thumb anymore.  I’m glad he’s over the thumb sucking, but I have to admit the blankie was just a part of “little” Carter I could hang on to.  For any of you that have been around Carter for the better part of his 6 years know that that blankie was an extension of him.  It made its way into many pictures—even a professional family picture :o)  The below picture is NOT a professional, just the one that was included with Payton’s birth announcements.

Shealyn seems to be taking all of the changes in stride as well.  She and I have talked about the move a little bit and she is a little nervous, but also excited to be with daddy all the time, to have a new house, and probably most excited about the fact she will have a bedroom ALL to HERSELF!!  What 8 year old girl wouldn’t want that?

As for myself, the time is winding down and the “stuff” I have left to pack doesn’t seem like a lot in my mind until I start putting it into boxes.  I’m steadily adding more boxes to the pile in our garage on a daily basis.  The big load is on Saturday and then we are Texas bound on Monday.   I REALLY am excited for this new chapter in our life.  I’ll be the first to admit it took me a while to jump on this bandwagon, but I am so ready to be a family of 5 again that I am excited for what lies ahead for us. 

This may be the last post before we are Texans so bye y’all!