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!

To the body parts formerly known as ankles...

Dear blobs of swelling between my heels and calves,

You used to be known as ankles. I am sure that no one would be able to identify you as such now. I'm so sorry that our body has shunned and disfigured you in this way. For some reason, body seems to think that the baby growing in our uterus would be better served if you too looked bloated and impregnated.

However, do not be alarmed. Body has made this same mistake with every pregnancy. With Kolby who was born in cold February, you disappeared around the first of January and came back by the time we were home from the hospital. With Rhett, who was born in miserably hot September, you went MIA in late June and reappeared before October. This baby, due in July, is already showing signs of being an over-achiever because I haven't seen you in a week, and it's only March. Hopefully we will see you again in August.

I miss you already. It is hard to walk around all day with you being buried under all that watery tissue. Seems you just can't bend and rotate the way God designed. Don't worry though, it won't last forever. A few weeks after the baby is out, you both will return to your former selves with little or no signs of your great transformation. I wish the same could be said for your friends tummy and butt. Those two have never been able to fully recover. BUT SHHHH! We won't mention stretch marks and all as tummy and butt are pretty sensitive and may not yet remember what is in store for them in months to come!!!

In the mean time, to help you guys out down there I will prop you up, put you in ice water, and lay on my left side whenever possible. As soon as I get a pedicure, your new best friends flip-flop and sling will accompany you anytime shoes are necessary. Other wise, we will go barefoot and try our best to get by with out you while you're gone. If at all possible, try to drop by occasionally in the morning before our feet touch the ground, just so I can remember what you are supposed to look like.

I know it will be rough. On those days when you no longer recognize yourself and fear you might get stuck this way forever, remember this is the last time we will ever be pregnant. Remind yourselves that this temporary discomfort and sacrifice is helping to bring a little miracle into the world. Tell yourselves that it will all be worth it when our arms hold a brand new baby. And if those things don't help.... Well, we only have 15 weeks to go! (Maybe less if heart and blood pressure get pumped up again.) But we are strong and we can do anything for 15 weeks! Right?

Enjoy your 4 month sabbatical to swollendome. You guys will be sorely missed!

Love ,
36 and 25 weeks pregnant

For the love...

Rhett has been having wardrobe issues lately. He has some very strong opinions about what he will and will not wear. Lately he has decided to voice those opinions after he is dressed and as we are walking out the door. This morning he had a full scale melt down over ... I can't even say for sure what it was over. A cap? His hair? Or maybe he wanted a long sleeve shirt??? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I had no time to mess with him or his wardrode issues, so I tried to just get him in the car. He wouldn't budge. The mean mommy voice came out. Then tears. Melt down. Drama. We are now late! More tears. Threats. GET IN THE CAR!!!!!!!!! And just when I thought I was going to have to hog tie him and strap him to the roof of the van to get him to Mother's Day Out (figurtively speaking of course!) Rhett, with tears streaming down his face puts his arms up towards me and cries "Mommy, please just hug me!"

And it wasn't a snow job. He knew he had lost the battle and was not going to get to change clothes. It was like he was surrendering and wanted to make sure his mama still loved him . All anger gone, frustrations evaporated,and the ticking clock in my head silenced, I gave him the biggest hug ever! That child melts my heart! How can such a little human being be so exasperating and so loveable all at the same time? I really love that little boy more than life itself!

I can't help but wonder if maybe I should have just let him change whatever and gone on. We were late anyway. Sometimes I wonder if I choose the wrong battles. What really gets me about Rhett is that he takes it so personally and in the "heat of battle" is not afraid to hold up his arms and ask for a show of love, even when he knows he isn't going to win. I think I could learn a lot from that 4 year old!

Actually, Rhett and Kolby have taught me quite a bit about life. Nothing I have ever done has taught me more about or brought me closer to God than being a parent. I wonder if I someimes look to God like a fit throwing four year old looks to me? I wonder if it melts God's heart when I ask him to wrap his arms around me and love me? I wonder if God picks his battles or if he just knows he will win them all? I wonder if God sometimes wishes we would all just grow up, but in the next minute wants to freeze time because the "here and now"can be so precious?

I am just a weak flawed person, but my love for my children has to be one of the strongest forces in the universe. God is God and his love for us IS the strongest force in the universe!!! If I, who am weak, am willing to throw my body in front of a speeding car for my child, can you imagine what God is willing, ready, able and wanting to do for us? Awe inspiring, isn't it? I wonder sometimes why I can't just except his will and take the love he so freely offers with out the struggle. Why is it we have to struggle so? I guess that is a question for another blog.

Hope you have a great day today and live for the love!

This and that

Much going on these days in our little house!

T-BALL
The biggest news I guess is that the mighty, mighty BLACK PANTHER t-ball team officially started practice last night! This has been a much anticipated event in our household. Rhett had his t-ball clothes laid out for two days in anticipation! I have never seen a little boy more excited about anything! He has talked about t-ball since soccer ended last November. Yesterday when Rob got home he found the little dude fully decked out in t-ball pants, socks, shoes, and a cap sitting on the front porch clutching his new bat bag...Which of course was packed with a bat, balls, batting glove, regular glove and sunflower seeds (?) He was ready to go. I made him wait until 4:30 to get dressed for his 5:30 practice.

Though Kolby and I missed half of practice, what we did see was hilarious! Rob has his hands full coaching this one! But he has my cousin Robby helping him and lots of dads willing to pitch in. Still it was a sight! Eleven little 4 & 5 year olds out there learning the game for the first time with a heard of older and younger siblings trying to "help" and a crowd of parents cheering them on! This is going to be a fun season!!! Truly, we have all been looking forward to it because the team is made up of all Rhett's favorite little friends who just happen to be the kids of some of my best friends! I think we all look forward to these games and practices!

POWER OUTAGE
Monday night, or actually Tuesday morning we were blessed with a great rain storm. Unfortunately the power went out around 4:00am. Rob was gone to the paper route. For some reason when our power goes out our smoke alarms beep for five minutes. By 4:05 Rhett and Kolby were wide awake and in bed with me. They insisted I light a candle because it was pitch black dark. Then they couldn't go back to sleep. Neither could I. It was hot. Then, baby girl decided to wake up and put on a dancing belly show for her future siblings. So at 4:45 Rhett and Kolby are wide awake in my bed watching for any sign of movement from my stomach by candle light. Did I mention I had stayed up until almost 1am trying to finish a mountain of laundry and clean up un-interrupted? Yeah I was tired.

We were almost all settled down and asleep by 5am when Rob made a horrible scary noise trying to get in the front locked door. Seems the garage won't open when the electricity is out! Finally at 5:30 I sent Kolby back to her room. Rob went to Rhett's room to try to catch some zz's and I was left to sleep with the twisting tornado boy. Needless to say 7am came early. Poor Kolby said she never went back to sleep. Rob found her at 6:45 am when the power came back on fully dressed and ready to go to school sitting on the couch in the living room. Tuesday was her Zoo field trip day at school and mixed with excitement of the lights going out and the baby show...it was just too much for her 8 year old brain to let go of to sleep! There is nothing I hate more than starting the day out tired!

By the time I picked Kolby up from school yesterday she was so tired she could barely walk. She immediately fell asleep when we got home and it took me 30 minutes to wake her up when I finally tried around 5PM. Talk about a power outage! She was zonked! We caught the tail end of T-ball practice and went out to eat for her cousin Samantha's birthday. She then fell asleep the minute her head hit the pillow at 8:45. This morning she was so tired I totally dressed her for the first time since she was 2 years old! It was really sad. If she hadn't missed 8 days of school with the flu last month (an all time absentee record for her ) I might have kept her home. She may have to miss part of church tonight and be in bed by 8! I can't imagine what the day light saving time change will do to her next week if she doesn't get caught up.

SPRING
Fall and Spring are my favorite weather seasons. I love the milder temperatures. But they always seem to be the busiest seasons too! I think that is why I so look forward to Summer. From now to June we will be running 90 to nothing with events, programs, games, or practices every night of the week. Did I mention I am pregnant during all of this? Add to the normal Spring buzz the "getting the house and family ready for the baby" buzz and I think we are in for some exciting times!!! WOW! I am a little scared of all there is to do, but every day I get more excited! Besides, I sorta enjoy the Spring buzz ! :)

Well that is all for now! It is raining outside I don't have anywhere to be until 2pm. Rhett and I are chillin' this morning! Hope you are chillin' in your little neck of the woods too! :) Happy Spring!

Happy Birthday Mom!

(Revised and pictures added on 3-28-06)
Today is my Mom's birthday! I would tell you how old she is but you wouldn't believe me! She has never ever looked her age. The best way to tell you about my Mom is to tell you about the many loves in her life in no particular order.

(This is a collage of pictures I made for a very important birthday she celebrated no too long ago!)

My Mom loves chocolate! It is almost sickening! Mom has been rail thin her whole life and only started working out about a month ago. She will make a pan of chocolate icing (yeah, a whole pan) and eat the whole thing. Every night before she goes to bed she drinks a glass of chocolate milk. I can't count the nights I lay in bed listening for the tell-tell sound of a spoon hitting the sides of a glass as mom stirred her good night potion! Mom does not care much about other foods. She once said she wished she could get all other food in a pill form and just eat dessert. Every Saturday of my childhood Mom made a big dessert to munch on the rest of the week. When dining out, it is not unusual for my mother to order a salad and a dessert and only eat half the salad and all the dessert. She cracks us all up!

My Mom loves me. We are exact opposites in many,many ways. Growing up that caused a few sparks to fly, nothing ever too terribly horrible mind you, but still there was friction. I was just not what she expected. She is quiet, clean, orderly and very happy to stay home and read a book. I was loud, messy, creatively cluttered and wanted to go, go, go! Over the years I think we have come to appreciate our natural differences, and we may have even rubbed off on each other from time to time!

Mom has her own friends and I have mine. We aren't together as much as some people think being that we live across the street from eachother. My mother raised me to be independent and to think and do things for myself. I really appreciate that now! My Mom is very independent in her own right, though for years she didn't recognize that trait in herself. No matter what, I have always been able to count on my Mom when I needed her. She is, and has always been, the first person I call to tell anything. She is my family's biggest cheerleader.

Papa, Sari, me, Kolby & Mama K

Mom also loves my sister. Sari and I are different in many ways and again, after me, I'm not sure Sari is what Mom was expecting. Because Sari and I are 8.5 years apart with no one in the middle, I often say my parents raised two only children. Mom quickly adapted to the differences in us and somehow manages to mother us differently but with the same intense love. As a mother I really appreciatie that about her!

Not only does Mom show Sari and me that she loves us all the time, I can't imagine anyone loving my husband more than my Mom! Rob lucked out when he got my Mom for a mother-in-law ( He calls her MIL or Milly for short). Mom loved Rob from the moment she met him. (That was a first from all of the guys I ever brought home by the way!) Rob can do no wrong in my mother's eyes. Actually, it is a bit annoying at times. There have been moments that I have wanted her on my side, but that was mostly just me being pouty! Truthfully, I love that my parents love and are so supportive of my husband. I wouldn't have it any other way.

My Mom loves her grandkids. She was as shocked as we were when she found out Kolby was on the way. Though she was really excited, I wasn't sure if she was ready for the whole grandmother thing. But Mama K has a very special relationship with both my kids. She and Kolby are very much alike. Because my Mom and I are so different, she thinks to do things with my kids that I don't. She wass Kolby's first piano teacher and hopefully will someday be Rhett's. She takes them to plays and educational things that I don't even know exist. She is also very good to help Kolby when Rob and I have had our fill of the spelling /reading /dyslexia battle. Mama K always finds a way to make it fun. There is nothing Rhett loves better than to spend the night with Mama K & Papa. Since he is the first little boy she has ever been around everyday, he has her wrapped tight around his little finger. She is very excited about baby number three and was thrilled to find out it is a girl! (Mom also thinks all girls should have a sister.) My Mom is a great grandmother.

(As silly as it is this is one of my favorite pictures of my mom with the kids! She doesn't like it so much!)

My Mom loves her job and loves helping people. She has been very successful in her career and though she retired once, went back to being an elementary school counselor in an under privileged Waco school. She makes a huge difference in the lives of her students. We can't go anywhere with out a student running up to hug Mrs. Elliot. She goes way above and beyond the call of duty because she truly loves kids. She works long and hard every day. Mom also volunteers weekly with a little girl who is working to overcome or adapt to life with autism. She loves seeing this little girl's progress and is always so excited to find new books, puzzles or games to use with her. She really has a gift when it comes to children.

My mother loves her sister and all her extended family. She and my aunt have a great relationship and are really enjoying living in the same town and hanging out with each other. My Mom loves her nieces and nephews and is always there to sew something or come help with whatever needs doing. She loves her great nieces and nephews as much as her grandchildren. Nothing warms my mother's heart like looking around church Sunday morning and seeing her ever growing family suround her in the pews. My mother LOVES her cousins and keeps up with family better than anyone I know. Her cousin Bo sent her a card recently that said having her as a cousin was better than having a sister! It's true.

Mom with her sister Sue and their cousins Bill & Bo .

My mother loves God. She is not a preachy person and is not overly verbal when it comes to her relationship with God. As her daughter, I have never doubted my mother's love for God and her church family. She teaches Sunday school and most of her good friendships have always been with people from church. My mother believes when others can't. Her life has not always been easy. She has worked almost everyday since she was 16 years old. She has gone with out and made painful sacrifices when called to do so, but I have never once heard her qusetion God's love and faithfulness in her life. My mother and I differ on views of the church from time to time. She has come a long way in some of her traditional Church of christ thinking, as I guess we all have. But I have never ever wondered where my Mom stood in her realtionship with God. She is an excellent example of a strong Christian woman.

My Mom also loves my Dad. Dad has fought pain and several physical handicaps all his life. Though I know she had to resent that he couldn't always do all that other men could, she never once said anything negative about his disabilities. If we ever came close to saying anything aboout Dad not doing something, Mom was always quick to remind my sister and me how hard life would be if only one of our two feet and hands worked properly. My parents have been through so much. I think this has to be the best time in their lives and marriage. They eat out almost every night. They travel when they want. They enjoy life. Mom and Dad never professed to having an ideal realtinship, but it has worked all these years! I am very proud of my parents.

Last year on their 40th anniversary!
My mother also loved her parents as much as I think a daughter ever could. My grandfather died nine years ago today on Mom's birthday. It was one of the worst days of our lives. The last nine years have not always been easy. Up until this January, Mom cared for my grandmother in ways no one else could. When the rest of us couldn't take anymore, Mom faithfully took care of Nana's needs and visited her often. For years my prayer for my mother was that she would not have to watch her mother suffer and battle dementia much longer. This is Mom's first birthday with out Nana. Though we are all glad Nana is where she is, I know it must be hard for my Mom to turn a year older without her mother here. I can't imagine it! But I also know Mom has a great peace knowing her parents are together where God promissed they would be. Mom has mourned the loss of her parents with such grace and dignity. I just don't know if I will ever be that strong!

Mom and Sue with Nana and 5 of her 8 great grandkids. This was Nana's last birthday. Nana was 96.
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I love you and I hope this is just one of many, many more happy birthdays we enjoy with you! You give so much love to this world and I know the world loves you back every bit as much! Thanks for being my Mom!

(Sorry it took me so long to post this today! )

A one elephant zoo

( Updated and reposted 3/07. I originally posted this and then saved it as a draft three hours later. Now a full year later I have decided to re post it and let it stand because chances are no one will go back and look at this except me. If you know me and know who this is, you know a year later things are really crazy! But the good news is the kids are safe for now. They are all three with a very sweet relative who wants nothing more than to give them security and love while helping them work past the tragic life they have lived for the last four years. I praise God everyday that those kids are away from their parents...for now anyway! )

For many weeks there have been some things weighing heavy on my mind, heart, and prayers. Things I can't exactly blog about or even talk about much. Giant invisible elephants I call them. Secrets or at least semi-secrets that should not be aired. I hate secrets. Today I have decided to let one out of it's cage. Maybe it is my new URL and distancing my name from my blog that is allowing me to do this. Or maybe I'm just a zookeeper who can only take care of one elephant at a time, but here it goes. (Besides it's Friday. No one reads these blogs over the weekend...right?)

Over Spring Break there was a drug raid on my street. I'm talking undercover cop cars lining the street and men in jeans and black flack jackets with their guns strapped to their thighs and waist prowling through the bushes and waiting to run in the house and search.... My sleepy little neighborhood does not see this type action. Ever. There are 24 kids on our street ages 6 months to 12 years. We are mostly young families with stay home moms and retired people. Until last Thursday, the biggest excitement on our block was when a teenager stopped for speeding down the street smelled of alcohol and the police called a patty wagon. That was two years ago.

Then there was last Thursday. It was scary, sad, and adrenaline pumping all at the same time. I watched former friends of mine be taken away in hand cuffs while neighbors kept their kids down the street. They found meth. I didn't know it was meth by name before last week, but I have watched something ruin a family over the last two or three years. Since I learned that something's name, I have been talking to people who deal with meth addicts trying to research and learn about the drug that has come to reside so close to my home. What I have found is terrifying!

Meth is not anything you just try once. It can be injected, ingested, smoked or snorted. It is highly addictive, fairly cheap compared to other drugs, and the high can last 6 to 8 hours (as compared to 30 to 60 minutes with heroine or cocaine). It ravages the brain with a dophamine overload. The body of a user "ages" one year for every two to three months of use. In one year the average meth user ages 5-6 years. Meth is an annorexiate meaning it kills the bodies desire to eat. Dramatic weight loss and a gaunt, malnourished, pale look are one of the first signs of meth abuse. Many users end up with a classic "meth mouth" as their teeth rot and fall out over the span of five years, sometimes faster.

Users experience the highest highs, and the lowest lows. Meth alters sleep patterns. In the beginning stages of abuse users can function for days on end requiring little or no sleep. After a few months users experience days and days of crashing where they can not stay awake and can sleep literally for days on end. In the beginning Meth increases one's sex drive in an unbelievable way. Eventually it depletes and completely kills ones sex drive all together. It alters and "burns out"nerve endings and receptors in the brain. Over time Meth use literally creates craters of dead brain cells that are visible in brain scans and are evident in autopsy's.

Read enough? It gets worse. Most rehab counselors paint a very dark picture when talking about recovery from meth addiction. In fact full recovery is almost unheard of. One counselor quoted in a Newsweek article said in 15 years of treating meth addicts he could not name more than five that were able to return to normal productive lives for more than a year without relapsing into a habbit or succumbing to the physical degeneration caused by years of meth abuse. Many meth users die young. AND what makes it worse is that Meth use is up to almost epidemic proportions in almost every age bracket from 12 years to 50! I won't even get into how easy and dangerous it is to make home made meth, except to say that it is highly explosive and the bi-products are lethal. Truly the information available with just a simple Google search is shocking.

Here is perhaps the saddest part of all this for me... Now that I know what has been going on with this family, I can't say I am too shocked. As weird as it was to see cops crawling all over my street and arresting people I know (that was a lifetime first for me), we have been expecting something like this to happen for a very long time. In fact I was afraid it would be something worse. There are kids involved in this situation. Kids who I have watched grow since they were babies. Kids whose lives have been turned up side down so many times in the last two or three years that they are almost unrecognizable. I have cried my self to sleep praying for them many times. I have butt in, confronted, drawn a line in the sand and tried to intervene every way I could think of. But, I gave up about a year ago. Nothing I said or did made any difference and in some ways it just made things worse.

I was a ball a nerves and so upset over this situation that for my own health and sanity (not to mention the health and safety of my family) Rob and I cut all ties with this family. We are pleasant, as we would be to any stranger, when we see them, but we have had to draw the line at that. It has been hard on my kids because these were their friends. It puts a damper on outdoor/ neighborhood play. But what it does to us is insignificant compared to what I fear has happened and is happening in that family.

Never before had I felt forced to say to someone that I could not be part of their lives or let my kids be part of their kids lives because they had made decisions and choices that put themselves, their children, and anyone who comes in contact with them in serious danger. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It is still hard when I look at the kids. Will those kids ever understand why I turned away from them? I constantly wonder if I did and am doing the right thing. My brain says yes, I have to protect my children and myself if I am to be of any use to anyone. But, my heart is never sure.

As a child of God, I know all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all need him and we all need forgiveness. I never want to put myself above another sinner. Loving people is hard, and messy, and sometimes dangerous. We are called to love the unlovable. As a Christian I struggle with the compassionate, loving but firm and not enabling response to this.

I don't know what all goes on with this family, but even from a distance, with only casual contact for the last year, I can see that whatever is going on is not good. I feel guilty for turning my back on these kids. I didn't want to. I tried not to. But I have to protect my kids. I am afraid of these people. Yet I still can't help but want to do something for those kids.

Luckily, I am not alone. I have several neighbors in the same boat. We have prayed about it, cried about it, and talked about it countless times. It helps to have community. My neighbor shared a devotional she was reading the other day about being God's person in the world. In it the author used a garden analogy saying when you work in the Garden, you don't get the mud glovey, you get your gloves muddy. After you work the soil and plant the seed you have to take the gloves out of the mud and cleanse them so that some day they can be used to plant again. You can't leave the gloves out in the mud. The gloves protect your hands and keep them clean. If you allow them to become saturated with mud and don't clean them, they can not do what they are intended to do.

This was helpful, but I find myself with so many questions. How many seeds do we plant before we cleanse? How long can the gloves stay in the mud before they become worthless to the gardener? Is it the gloves fault if the seeds don't grow? As Christians how long can we stay in the mud before we get so mucked up that we are no good to the Father? How many times should we try to sow seed in soil that is not fertile and does not want to be sown? When does God say it is OK for a Christian to walk away from another, even if they do so in hope that somehow God will reach that person, even if it isn't through them? Is it enough that we give a situation to God, and walk off? What if to the innocents left behind it looks like we are just walking off? How do you show you care and still remain separated? How do I shelter and protect my children without abandoning theirs? These are the questions that again fill my heart this morning.

One thing I keep coming back to is how very much we need God in our lives. All of us. I tend to get sidetracked from my walk with Christ and at times feel like Christianity is a badge I wear more than it is a honor I have been given and a way of life I practice. When I see how easy it is for someone to be led astray and how the actions of one person and ruin the lives of so many, I thank God that he is there for us all. He truly is the one pure love and the one true hope for this world.

My prayer is that God will find a way to rescue these children from the path set before them by their parent's choices. I pray that God will send just one person to them that is strong enough and stable enough to give them security, hope, discipline and above all, the self-sacrificing love they need. I pray that the Lord of all children will wrap his arms around anything innocent and loving left in that house and help it to grow and conquer the darkness that looms all around it. I pray that I do what HE wills me to do and that he gives me the vision to see his plan. I would love you to join me in those prayers if you feel so directed.

Prayers sent up of the back of an invisible elephant....
Thanks for letting me share. Thanks for being my community. Must go tend to the zoo now!

Nothin'

I wanted to blog today but when I sat down to type...nothing!

Or maybe it's just that everything on my mind isn't good blog fodder? OR maybe I can't quite reach the key board for the invisible elephant sitting in my lap. Ever had one of those weeeks?

Still, for blogging purposes, I got nothin'!

What's up with you?

Name Game

Thought this looked fun!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name) Tinker Chapman
2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandmother's maiden name on your mother's side, your favorite candy) Whitaker Sweet Tarts
3. YOUR "FLY GIRL" NAME: (first initial of last name, first two or three letters of your first name) G. Ste
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite animal, name of high school)Bunny Central
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) K Garland
6.YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name) Grotonley
7. JEDI NAME: (middle name spelled backwards, your father's middle name spelled backwards) K Nodyroc

Bye Bye Spring Break!

Well it's over! Kolby is back in school and the daily grind has begun again. I would be lying if I didn't admit to being a bit happy about that... I have had both kids home for days on end on and off for weeks now and it's good to get back into the swing. From Tuesday on last week the weather decided not to be very Spring like. The last three days have been gray, cold and drizzly... not exactly ideal Spring Break weather! And of course it is sunny warm and beautiful today! :)

We still had a good Spring Break despite the weather. We didn't do allot, but somehow I managed to get allot done. Both kids closets are officially cleaned out and all the old clothes are stored or donated. We made some progress on Kolby's new room and bought some great items for that. AND ...it's sad that I am so excited about this.... We bought two big rubber closet like storage cabinets for the garage. They are air tight and can be locked. AND THEY WERE ON A HALF PRICE SALE! Plus I had a 20% off coupon! I only had to spend a third of the money I had planned for these cabinets! :) Why does a good deal make me so happy? Now I can get serious about emptying the guest bedroom closet!

I do not like to clean out. I dread it and put it off forever, but when I actually bite the bullet and do it, NOTHING makes me feel better! I love it when my house is clean and everything is in it's place! I guess am a true neat person who has an incredibly high clutter tolerance. That tolerance has been reached and surpassed, so the next few months are going to be full of cleaning and purging our lives of things we do not need and clutter! :) It's safe to say I am nesting!

Changing the subject, I know most of you have had many unbloggable moments in your life. Last Thursday we had a bit of excitement in our neighborhood. Not good excitement. This is one of those things that I can't go into but it is weighing so heavy on my heart that I feel I need to mention it. There are three kids (ages 8 to 8 months) involved . Please just pray for the best possible thing to happen for these little kids. Rest assured my family and I are all ok and at this point I have decided to just avoid the situation. But still I hope and pray somehow God will find a happy ending for these kids. It's heartbreaking and I feel helpless to do anything about it. I am glad we have an all knowing, all loving God to give these situations over to! He is truly our Hope!

Off to start the Monday chauffeur schedule!
Hope your week has started off well!

You found me!

I tried several different URLs before finding one that was not taken. This one is a bit weird, but accurate! When you read this blog you are getting the SKEG (my initials) report! Please excuse the mess while I move. I hope to change my skin and add a few other features. We here at the skeg report are tirelessly working to become a bigger better blog! :) Hope you enjoy your spring break! :)

Mommy moments...

I am trying to document this pregnancy better since it is the last. At 22 weeks I am really starting to feel like I am pregnant. Rob felt the baby kick Saturday morning and we made the mistake of telling the kids. Kolby and Rhett put their hands on my belly now anytime they think about it trying to feel a kick. It's cute, but slightly annoying when you are trying to get through the grocery store. I have fallen back in love with bubble bathes. I loathe maternity clothes! I guess they are a necessary evil, but it hacks me off to pay so much for such poorly made un-cute clothes!

Speaking of clothes, our house resemsbles a resale store at the moment. I am cleaning out years and years of kids clothing from the closets and attic boxes. Except for a small tub of precious keep sake baby items, I'm giving all of Rhett's clothes away. Kolby's clothes are harder since we may need them again. However I realize what Kolby wears now won't fit the baby for seven or so years at least, so I'm trying decide what is worth keeping that long. I don't like doing this, but it feels good to get it all sorted through and cleaned out!

We are also getting serious about a nursery. The plan is to re-do the guest room for Kolby and then refresh and update her current room for the baby's flower garden themed nursery. Kolby has had the same room since she was two. When we moved I did the exact same thing (including exact paint colors and white picket fence stenciled border) here in this house. It will be easy to turn her room into a nursery. I'm on the look out for cute flower garden type bumper pads and bedding for the baby's room. Pottery Barn Kids has some cute stuff, but I'm not completely sold. Any ideas?

Kolby has wanted a pink room since Kindergarten. I guess she is due a change. I hope to have her in her new room by May so we can have June to get the nursery ready. Rhett wants us to jazz his room up a bit too. I am trying to get a plan for that. His room has always had a baby boy/sports motif, but he wants a 100% total BIG BOY Sports room. No baby blue gingham with rocking horses for him! We may have to work on this after the baby comes.

I love decorating kids rooms! I have so much fun picking out paint, bedding and accessories then pulling it all together. Kolby's bedding is a generic multi-colored fun pattern (with lots of hot and baby pink) from Target. (Swell Pop Picnic if you want to take a look though it's cuter and brighter in person!) It's no longer in our store so I ordered it online this morning. We have some fun plans for her new room. She is so into this process and has been making detailed sketches of how she wants her room to look. I think she has been around me too long! :)

Back to the prego journaling thing. I thought it would be fun to record the things I crave right now. This list has changed a lot since the beginning but here is a list of the constants...

~Mrs Renfro's raspberry chipotle salsa mixed with 1/4 parts applesauce with HEB white corn tortilla chips.
~Fresh blueberry's with fat free vanilla yogurt topped with Kashi granola.
~Frosted Mini-wheats.
~Corn or Rice Checks with a dash of sugar (cereal is King in my house these days ).
~Rosa's fajitas or soft tacos.
~Cheddar's chicken & shrimp oriental salad.
~TCBY raspberry sorbet
~Schlotsky's ( no other brand does it for me) salt & vinegar chips.

Well off for more Spring break fun! We are having a little cold snap today so I think we will go catch a movie. I will change my url sometime this week, just not sure when. Have a great Wednesday!

Everybody's doing it!

Have you noticed the rash of address changes in blogdom as of late? Well, I too am about to change the address of my blog. Some time in the next week I will make the switch. I'm doing this mostly for security and privacy reasons. I'm not leaving blogger, I just want my name off of my blog address. As soon as I get it all worked out, I will e-mail you guys the new address (send me your address if you want me to e-mail you) and then briefly post the new address on this old address site. I don't have the wizzardry of Greg Kendall Ball (btw, love Mike Cope's new site) to help with this move, so bear (not bare, sorry) with me! Just wanted to give you heads up.

We are really enjoying our Spring Break. Hopefully I will have a chance to post later in the week. I hope all of you have able to enjoy sunshine and wonderful weather as we have this week! God created a really beautiful world. Spring is a great time to enjoy it. Blessing to you all!

Spring Saturday

Today was our first official day of Spring Break! The kids celebrated by spending the night at my Moms last night. Rhett was calling us by 8:00am though as he was ready to come home and work in the yard with Dad. Of course Dad was asleep, but that didn't seem to matter to Rhett. Kolby, our little social butterfly, had two back to back birthday parties today and a very messy room to clean up before hand.

We have a new deal with Kolby. During the week we are not going to be picky about how she keeps her room, but she has to clean it up Saturday before she goes anywhere or does anything. From the amount of tears and numerous "failed inspections" we had before the 1pm party deadline, I'm not so sure this new system is working. Anyone have any ideas on how to get an 8 year old girl to keep her room and closet tidy WITHOUT TEARS?

Today was a busy one. Rob rented an aerator for our yard and my parents yard. Seems our ground is so hard that when we water, it runs off clear instead of soaking in. SOOO for the first time in our lives we aerated the yard. Well, Rob did anyway. Who knew we had to actually pay to do stuff like this when we grew up and owned a house? :) Rob's Saturday was spent in the two yards.

My Saturday was spent carpooling and running little errands. As I was leaving the mall to pick Kolby up from party # 2, I saw a family beside me in the parking lot unloading their three little girls. They looked awfully familiar. I rolled down my window and stopped backing out and asked "Are you Tracy?" YES that is right! I met my blog world friend TRACY in person!!! Tracy, Scott and the girls were parked right beside me at Dillards. What are the odds? Even though I couldn't talk for long, it was really great to meet Tracy and her family. The girls are just as beautiful in person as they are on her blog! Now I have a voice to go with a face. I actually think I saw her at HEB a week or so ago but at the time I wasn't sure and had a sick child with me. But now that I have met one bloggy friend, I want to meet more of you! I truly love my little blog family! ...But back to the day...

For the perfect ending to our Saturday, Mom kept the kids while Rob and I had a dinner date to a Steakhouse we have been wanting to try. They had good food but, I really just enjoyed getting to talk to my husband uninterrupted. Date nights are so important in a marriage. We vowed to try for more of them!

We capped the night off with a "survey" trip to Lowes. Though not very romantic, it was really good to get some of the "before the baby comes projects" mapped out and planned. We have barely had a chance to talk about any of these things before now. It was great just to stroll the aisles and talk without chasing down or keeping an eye on the kids. Please don't get me wrong. We love our kids and love to be around them, but breaks are nice!

Now as Rob and the kids sleep all snug in their beds, I am wide awake scheming through ideas and plans for things that need to be done in this house. It's funny how an hour in Lowes can get my creative, organizational, "do-it-yourself" juices flowing! Hopefully they will stop flowing soon so I can get some sleep!
Six more days of Spring Break ahead, Woo Hoo!
Hope you all had a fun, productive, beautiful spring Saturday!
G'night!