This week

I have been wanting to post since Monday to say that all is well and we are having a great week. I usually love Mondays. Really. Anyway nothing else has broken so far, so I think we may have lost the Gremlin. I have been so busy running around this week that I haven't had time to blog, check e-mail or anything!

A few quick updates.
~Rhett and Rob had their second t-ball game Monday night and it was really fun. The weather was perfect and the kids are such a blast to watch. Our team loves to bat! The outfield is another story, but I think that is how it always goes.
Rhett hit this one out of the park!

~Tuesday I ran all day long! I can't even remember what I did but, I was not at home at all. We met Rob at Rosa's for dinner (Taco Tuesday you know!) and afterwards I got stuck in a hail storm coming back from my 5th trip to Wal-Mart that day.

~Teacher Appreciation week is next week at Kolby's school. I have been super busy getting ready for that. We have a different event planned for each day. I'll post more about that later. I think it will be very fun for everyone, but there is a lot of prep work!

~Wednesday...Wednesday is always the longest day of the week for me. Rhett and I left the house at 10am and I didn't stop running until 8:30 that night. We ran errands, shopped at Wal Mart, ate lunch in the car, got teacher gifts for Kolby's Baylor teachers, took Kolby to Baylor, went to a store downtown, dropped Rhett off with his cousin Justin, went to an hour long end-of-the-year conference for Kolby at Baylor, picked up Kolby, picked Rhett up, went to the grocery store, came home to make part of a dinner for a friend who just had a baby, sent the kids to church with my parents, took the meal to my friend, met my family at church to eat, ran to my classroom early to do my lesson, taught class, and finally came home! Yeah, that was Wednesday.

~Today went at about the same crazy busy pace. Tonight we are eating out with my parents and sister, so it should be a calm night.

~Kolby's room is coming along well. I have two or three more projects to finish before the decor is done.After that we will slowly tackle the closet and move her in. I haven't taken pictures yet, but will soon. Kolby LOVES her new room so far! She can't wait to be in there all the time.

~My Mom is going to get the bumper pads for the babies room next week when she is in Austin. We are going to make the rest of the bedding and things for the room. Actually Mom will make it and I will help pick out the material. I really need to learn how to sew. But when would I do that?

~Rob pulled the baby bed and changing table down out of the attic last weekend. Both need a fresh coat of paint, but after that, they should be good to go. The baby bed I used for my kids is the baby bed my grandmother bought for my parents when they were expecting me! It has been home to at least five babies in my family. I am so glad that all my kids get to use my baby bed and that my grandmother had the forsight to invest in a really good bed! I'm ready to get this nursery put together. I just have 12 more weeks! :)

~Some old pregnancy friends have come to visit several times this week. Their names are Braxton Hicks and Heart Burn. I now carry TUMs with me where ever I go. It is not unusual for my tummy to get as hard as a bowling ball for no apparent reason. . Besides that, all is well, and if movement is any indicator, this baby is doing great! Rhett has been very intrigued with my dancing belly. The kids are really enjoying this phase of the pregnancy, except for Mommy being really pooped at the end of the day.

~People who swore I didn't look pregnant at 20 weeks, are now, at 28 weeks,asking if I am having twins. Seriously. It is hard to imagine how big this belly will be 12 weeks from now!!! But, I knew that would happen. I always get HUGE when pregnant. I am so happy to be pregnant, and yet at the same time, so happy that this is the last time I will ever be pregnant! Closure is a good thing.

That's all for now. Need to give a spelling test. ONLY FIVE MORE SPELLING TEST UNTIL SUMMER! I'm not sure who is happier about that, me or Kolby! Have a great weekend blog world!

Monday...all week long

I feel it has been a "Monday" all week long...

I just got off the phone with my sister. She is stuck on a run way in New York . She has been at the airport since 7:30am, on the plane since 8:30 am. It's 11:00am there now and the Captian just told them they are #30 in line to take off. YUCK! Thing is she doesn't even know what the hold up is. It's rained a bit, but nothing too threatening. So she's stuck through no fault of her own just waiting for the chance to fly. Ever had one of those days?

I think I have had one of those weeks. Nothng horrible has happened. In fact everything is fine. But every time I try to get something done, the wheels just spin and spin but I don't seem to be making any progress. And through no fault of mine, things keep breaking. What things? Well... the garage door(the thing won't open or close even by hand and there are wires sticking out!) , the front door (won't close unless it's locked) , the attic ladder (the spring broke) , the computer monitor (died) , the car alarm on the van ( goes off if the van is locked for more than ten minutes for no reason) , Rob's cell phone screen (died) ... just random little necessary things. And I just got a notice from Pay Pal that a third party tried to access my account...I don't even think I have a pay pal account. Did I unknowingly pick up a gremlin somewhere?

I have to wonder if this has anything to do with with my resolve to try to be more thankful and more positive in all situations. Yes, I made that resolve last week. Do you think the devil heard me and is trying to test me? Thoughts to ponder.

But in keeping with my new resolve, I am going to keep on keeping on while believing that what is broken can be repaired, and eventually that big long to-do list will get done. I guess we have to enjoy the ride whether we feel we are going anywhere or not. I am thankful to have a comfy house with a garage door, a van, a cell phone and a computer monitor (even if they are temporarily broken). I keep thinking of the people hit so hard by Katrina last September.

While they are grateful to be alive, life is very different for so many Katrina survivors. Their houses aren't anywhere near being fully repaired. Their communities are still in shambles. Many are paying morgages on houses that are only half standing. Yet many I have seen on TV or have heard about from people who have been there, have not lost hope and have not let themselves give in to despair. They are taking the curve life has thrown them and making the best of it while being grateful for the life they are left with. That is the best any of us can do.

So if I have to spend three hours on the phone trying to figure out the Pay Pal mess, or if my sister has to sit on a plane on a run way going no where all day, we still have good lives. We still have lots to be grateful for. We still need to praise God for the day and the time we are given. Thanks for joining me for this rambling lesson to myself. Hope to get back into the swing of blogging again soon! :)

PS ~ You might find it hilarious that this is the message I got just now when I tried to publish.

Could not connect to Blogger.com. Saving and publishing may fail!

No lie! Even my blogger is broken... you would think today is a MONDAY or something!

Thankful

Today I am thankful that my biggest complaint is the temperature outside and the swelling that has taken over my feet and ankles.

I am thankful that my 8 year old's biggest problem is a spelling test on Friday, a slight reading disorder, a messy room and an itchy sun burned scalp.

I am thankful that my four year old biggest issue is grumpinees because I refuse to take him to his Dad's softball game in the 98 degree heat tonight. I am not his favorite person right now...In 20 minutes he will love me again.

I am thankful that this baby growing inside me is moving and showing all the signs of being healthy and perfectly formed!

I am thankful that I have a husband who works long and hard and still has the energy and desire to coach t-ball and play Tuesday night softball with the guys.

I am thankful that most of my deepest concerns for our future can be solved with a check.

What brought on this bout of thankfulness?

I was just at Kolby's school and I watched several anxious parents pick up their third graders knowing that they took the TAKS test today just a week after their third grade teacher died. I wish there was a way to make the rest of the school year vanish for these kids, but there isn't. It is hard to take your child to school everyday knowing the painful reminders they will face. I think the kids are in some ways doing better with it than the rest of us.

I drove by the house where that same teacher's two little girls wake up every day to face life with out their Mommy. My heart hurts for them and I can't understand why little girls have to deal with this. Their Dad has to be hurting on so many levels yet he has to keep it together and try to go on. It seems so unfair.

I saw a friend whose life has been torn apart by rage, deceit, and a drug addiction for the last two years. I want to have hope for her, but I just don't see it. How do you recover when you have thrown away so much?

I read the comments of a Christian struggling with the sin of homosexuality on a blog. It broke my heart. I don't understand these issues. My heart and mind can not wrap around them. So much suffering.

So without any smugness I can say I am thankful for the problems I have. My life is far from perfect. I am a very flawed being who can be self absorbed and selfish. I mess up all the time. I have made some bad choices, some even on purpose. I stumble and grumble at times when really I have no room to gripe. I deserve a lot worse than what I get. I know God has blessed me more than I ever deserve. And today I am thankful. Truly thankful.

Most of all I am thankful that I know a God who is ...
Big enough to take all these concerns to.
A God who hurts when we hurt
A God who works to make good come out of the bad.
A God who suffered and died for me.
A God who sacrificed his son for me.
A God who can see past these pains and who assures us all that even in the darkest hour there is hope.
A God who truly loves me even though he knows all my sin and flaws.

"May the sweetest prayer we ever pray simply be ... Dear Lord, THANK YOU!"

Easter Recap

What a fun LONG weekend!

Our Easter weekend started last Thursday when both kids were out of school. We went to the park for breakfast, ran a few erands, and the kids went swimming with neighbors next door. I started some big projects for Kolby's new room and when Rob got home he helped me until bedtime.

Friday we ran around town with my Mom, went to Wal-Mart with the rest of Central Texas (PS never go to Wal-mart on Good Friday!) and then Rob took Rhett swimming while Kolby and I ran to get her haircut. It is so cute! Kolby says she feels like a different person : ) We then ate out and made a family trip to Target.

Saturday it was work, work, work, all over the house and yard. The kids played outside all morning and went swimming most of the afternoon next door. Despite SPF 45 both came home looking like Lobsters! Kolby's Scalp was even sun burned! It was a very,very late night for me and the Easter Bunny Saturday night!

Sunday was a great day! I woke up to a phone call telling me that baby James had arrived! What a perfect start to Easter! (He looks to be a real cutie from the 100 pictures or so that Elizabeth has uploaded!) Hope to meet him soon. It has been so fun to watch Lauren in all the stages of pregnancy. She and Josh are going to be great parents!

The kids loved their Easter Basket breakfast! Rhett kept saying "I love Easter!" Kolby was so excited to wear her new Easter dress and shoes! Rhett wasn't excited about his duds at all, but he didn't gripe too much. My mom came over to help me with some of my dishes for Easter dinner and we were still early to church. It's a very good Sunday when our family is seated before church starts! Church was packed! Jim did a great job. I love singing, even really old songs, when there is a full house.
All the little cousins were there except little Susannah who was just released from the hospital after fighting a horrible stomach bug since Wednesday! Poor baby girl had to have an IV for a few days to get past the bug. But she is much better and even joined us for a little Easter yesterday.

Lunch was at my Mom's house. We had ham, super duper potatoes, summer salad, fat green beans, maccaroni-n-cheese, fresh cantaloupe, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, and Key Lime pie! It was all so good and so fun to share with the whole big family! It was also Maria's birthday so we had cake and presents too. Our house was the scene of the big Easter egg hunt. My kids favorite part is smashing confetti eggs on each other's heads after all the candy filled eggs have been found. Then it was playing, naps, tv, and girl talk for the rest of our very lazy afternoon. A great family Easter! We missed Sari who is working in New York City this week. It is hard for me to pity someone who is in New York City...even when they miss Easter! But we still missed her! :)

The kids were bathed and in bed by 8:15 and my light was out at 9pm. That never happens anymore! We had a great Easter and are looking forward to the next busy 6 weeks until school is out. WOW! Just six weeks! I know it will go so fast then just seven weeks until the baby is due! AND that is if I go to my due date, which I have never done. So I guess I better get going if I am going to get all the items scratched off my "things to do before the baby gets here" list! Hope you had a great Easter! Happy Spring!

Easter Parties

Both my kids are out of school Thursday and Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday are their Easter party days. I signed up to make cookies and help with both classe parties at the first of the year before I knew I was going to be prego. YUM YUM Sugar Cookies! Very bad for my resolve no to eat sweets! Is there anything more wonderful an iced sugar cookie?

Rob laughed at me as I was madly icing a batch for Kolby's class last night at 11pm. "Do you have to put icing, candy and coordinated sugar sprinkles on every cookie? " Now what kind of question is that?

Hopefully I'll find the camera and post some pictures. Happy Easter!
Rhett models the cookies and his new summer cut!
The girls hamming while eating the cookies.
Kolby's classThe little brothers hanging out during their big sisters party.

No man is an island...

Saturday morning the secretary from Kolby's school called to tell me that one of our third grade teachers had died the night before. My PTA job is to work with and support the teachers at our school. The secretary knew I would want to know. This was this teacher's first year at Spring Valley. I don't know the third grade teachers as well as the other grades, but still, I knew her. It's heart breaking.

Her Husband is a minister who works with troubled youth. She is mother to two little girls, a kindergartner and a fourth grader, who also attend our little school. She lost a little girl to cancer about five years ago. She was helping give a "cancer free" party for her beloved relative after a good trip to MD Anderson last week. She was only 31. She died of an apparent overdose of sleeping pills. I am not sure if anyone knows or is saying whether it was accidental or intentional. My heart wants to believe it was accidental, and my mind won't listen to much else.

No matter what the reason, two little girls woke up to bury their Mommy today. A room full of third graders went to school this morning knowing they will never see their teacher again. A team of teachers rushed to get a substitute ready to finish out the year as they battle their own emotions at loosing their friend. Administrators and counselors took their places and prayed they can help everyone through this tragedy as well as possible. Parents took their kids to school with heavy hearts and a lump in their throat. I know I have hugged my kids a lot tighter since Saturday. This just isn't supposed to happen.

As all tragedies do, this tragedy has made me stop and think about my life in ways I don't think everyday. I wonder if I said "Hi" to her when I saw her last Thursday? Did I smile at her? I had no idea that the death of this woman that I barely know would make me cry, but it did. No man is an island we are all connected...

I wonder if she had any idea how her death would affect so many people? Do any of us ever really realize how intertwined our lives are with others? Do we realize that what we do or what happens to us can change the course of some one else's life? This death has really made me think about being salt and light. It has made me think about communicating love at all times, even to strangers on the street. It has made me want to be more intentional in communicating my affection for other people every day.

I know without asking that many of you will pray for this family and school. Thank you in advance for your prayers. I assure you they are greatly appreciated and today, greatly needed.

Where did the week go?

Seems like this week has flown by! It has been a busy one. A fun one too! I went to lunch with a good friend this week and then got to go to ladies night at church and B&N with some of my favorite girlfriends last night. We have been on the go and eaten out almost every night. (I so love eating out!) Tonight we are grillin' and chillin' at home! Ahh the weekend!

I also went to the doctor Tuesday. All is well. Bladder is back in action. All is normal. Being pregnant at 36 is a bit harder than it was at 28, but I guess that is to be expected. I had the big "tubal talk" with Dr. R. I was surprised that he kind of tried to talk me out of it. Since I am 36 with 3 kids I assumed it was a no brainer. But after listening to him, and talking to different people, I may wait. Anyone have tubal opinions?

This has also been a heavy PTA week for me. We had the monthly birthday celebration Thursday. We did "Easter Sundaes" in the teachers lounge and I carted half my house up there to decorate! I love doing these monthly events and have so much fun pulling them all together. But am also very glad that it is someone else's turn next year! We had our last "at school" PTA board meeting this morning. Hard to believe there are only 7 more weeks of school! Afterwards I spent most of the day writing e-mails, planning, and trying to budget for Teacher Appreciation Week which is May 1st-5th here. (The rest of the Nation is celebrating it the next week~ Don't know why we are doing it early!)

Now I have about 15 loads of laundry to do and there is still that matter of pulling Kolby's new room together. We painted and moved lots of things out of the room last wekend, but that is as far as we have gotten. I hope to get lots done in the next week but with Easter, and Easter parties upon us, I'm not sure what we will actually be able to accomplish. This is our last T-ball free weekend for quite a while, so I need to get a lot done!

Nothing too earth shattering or thought provoking going on here, but I felt I had to check in and say "Hi" to all my buds in blogland. Now I am off to read what you guys have been doing this week before goingto get Kolby at school. Have a great weekend!

In the pink...

This weekend much time was devoted to painting the pale yellow walls of the guest bedroom PINK! China Aster Pink to be exact. It's really pink now. It glows! Hoping once we get everything in there it won't feel so...., so...., so.... PINK! BUT Kolby loves it.! She has wanted a pink room for a few years now.

When I was a little girl, pink was my favorite color too! I used to tell my Mom (who by the way never painted my room pink) that I wanted to live in a pink house with pink carpet and drive a pink car. That idea has lost it's appeal over the years. But because pink is one of my favorite colors still (note the predominate color of this blog) I guess I understand Kolby's desire for an all pink room!

Besides turning the walls pink, a friend and I took the kids and four of their friends to Burger King and then to see Dennis Lee and Nana Puddin' at our church Friday night. Mr. Lee does a great show! He also goes to Kolby's school every year but the church show is better to me because he actually gets to talk about God and Jesus. Mr Lee is 42 and single. My Mom has been plotting to set him up with the principal at her school who is about that age for a year now. He seems like such a nice guy! As fun as the night was I'm going to go ahead and say right now... I never want to have 6 kids! It was a little overwhelming. But a good time was had by all...

And where was Rob Friday night? Glad you asked. My husband was with my three cousins (two in-laws) and two friends playing in a Baylor DODGE BALL TOURNAMENT! They entered in the over 26 age bracket. Apparently there were not any men that age brave enough to face them, so they moved our guys down with the 18 - 25 group of college kids. AND THEY WON THE WHOLE THING! We have laughed and laughed about it! They had a blast and I'm afraid are now hooked and looking for another chance to prove themselves as dodge ball champions. These guys really do have fun... But next weekend, they get the kids.

Saturday was spent painting (Ok that was Rob because he wouldn't let me stay in the fume-filled room) running errands and going to birthday parties. Ms. Birthday Party (aka Kolby) had two that day. Saturday night was her cousin Samantha's all girl pajama party. (Ended at 8pm. No sleep-over. Ashley's a smart woman!) Sari and I (and all the girls in the family) went to help out and paint nails and such. We had a great time and ended up going out to eat with everyone afterwards at a new favorite burger joint in China Spring called ZEBS. If you live near Waco you need to make the drive to try Zebs. Meanwhile, Rob and Rhett went to watch the basket ball game and have a Star Wars video game night with cousins Robby & Justin. We were all tuckered out and in bed by 10pm, the old time.

Which brings me to the question of the week. WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME???????????? Yesterday wasn't so bad, but Kolby was so tired going to school this morning. I always feel for teachers and kids the week after Day-light savings time starts. It is so hard on the little ones! AND it is now dark in the mornings, again. I am much happier waking up when the sun does, not before!

Besides that, the only down side to the weekend is that I think I have a bladder infection (fever, back ache, burn etc.~ooops oversharing! ) and of course my ankles were a no show the whole time. But on the positve side of the pre-natal spectrum... Baby girl is becoming more active every day. I love feeling her move and kick around in there. I sorta wish, like Tom Cruise and Katy Helms, I had a sonogram machine at home so I could see what she is doing in there. I mean really! Does she have hiccups or is she just spasticly kicking for no reason? Either way, to feel this little life moving around in my belly is funky, weird, and wonderful all at the same time!

Happy Monday everyone!