Bright Sunshiny Day

Tap, Tap, Tap.....Is this thing on?

You know the old saying..."be careful what you wish for?" 

I'm here to to tell ya...."Be careful what you wish for!"  You might just end up with all your children sleeping in your room.

Last week was one of those crazy weeks.  Our family was spread out from the Metroplex, to North Texas and then to New Jersey and Connecticut.  Andy was gone on business, E and C were gone to see Gigi and Pops in my hometown, so Super Bubbie and I (along with the Golden Wonders) held down the fort for a while.

You know, paring down to just one kid  - when you are used to children coming in at least two at a time - is just SO NICE.  He napped and no one else was awake. I got to read some.  And did not have to answer one question! He went to bed early  - leaving me with my cheesy girl movies and blue bell. He was just fine having a bowl of cheerios for dinner. 

But.  When he napped - no one else was awake.  And the only question that Super Bubbie seemed to ask last week was, "Isn't THAT funny?!"   And I got tired of cereal for dinner.  So I wished.  I wished for all my people back. 

Eventually, they all came back.  But as soon as we got back in the routine of Bright Sunshiny Day-land, the air conditioner blew.  It smoked and everything.  So last night we all slept in our room.  ALL.OF.US.   At some point during the night I wondered to myself how in the world I gave birth to the three noisiest sleepers in the Lone Star State.  I thought about dropping them at the fire house under the "Safe Spot" protection for kids.  Just for the night, though.  You know how I get lonely during the day.

One had to potty three times.  Two needed extra drinks.  One worked like a super hero on his paci.  The one who had to potty three time cried in her sleep.  And the other woke up at two and whined around about not being about to fall asleep and stay asleep.  Tell me about it.

Miraculously, I seem to be the only sleepy one today.  How DO they do that?  Keep us up all night and maintain their energy level the next day?

It all balances out though.  In another fit of insanity, I took them all to the shoe store this afternoon.  We were fascinated with the behavior of three different sets of kids who were also getting some shoes.  There was running and hitting and whining and wrestling and fighting for snacks.  It even spread from one family to another.  Three kids (who were strangers) fighting over a baggie of dried cereal. OH MY.  I'm sure I stared with my mouth open for at least five minutes.  I was gently reminded that while my kids may be noisy sleepers, they are generally well behaved.  And yep.  They got ice cream on the way home.  I am THAT kind of mom.  I also had no qualms about pointing out the not-so-well-behaved children. 

Bless their hearts.  As good as they are I'm not buying them anymore new shoes.  They'll just have to make do with what they've got until they can drive themselves to the store.

Oh.  And we also got a new air conditioner today.  Good thing.  Supposed to be  105.  Gosh it's hot. 

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

You are THREE today! 

How can that be?  You are such a wonderful little boy!  Everyday is full of big smiles, bigger hugs and loud laughter with you.  Daddy, Mommy and Sissies love you very much! 

The Last Day of School!

Thirty five weeks ago, in the back seat of my van, I had two little girls FULL of nervous energy.  One with zero front teeth and they were both singing as loud as I would let them:

Now, Billy Joe McGuffrey
was a really clumsy kid.
On the first day of first grade
I'll tell you what he did.
He tripped over a pencil box,
flew up in the air,
landed on a kangaroo
who pulled out all his hair!
He needed first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade.
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid.

Today, I brought home two little - but bigger little girls.  One with her big girl front teeth all grown in and one who just the other day lost her first front tooth.  My goodness.  How things change around here!  Super Bubbie had just turned two and now he's nearly three!

We've left behind most of our picture books - and replaced them with chapter books.  Andrew has outgrown even his biggest onsie - but still loves his paci  and we left behind hair bows for a brief amount of time....only to embrace them again.....along with a new interest in what we look like on the outside.  Thankfully, they still want my help and approval on any sort of outfit/combo/hair inspiration that they come up with. 

This summer holds a promise of being a sweet one!  The little girl years are slipping by and I have to say that I hate to see them go....we still have so much to learn!  So many things to discover together.  I've loved first grade~I've loved having two first graders and a two year old this year!  My son knows grammar jingles, the Ten Commandments, and our Ancient Egyptian history song.   This year has brought so much change in our life and we scratch our heads and whisper thank you to the Heavenly Father who has been so, SO good to us.

I'll leave you with one little girl's first journal entry.  It's just too sweet not to share....and my goodness....to those who have walked along beside us this year, I hope this touches your heart, too.

I have a nice worm (warm) house.  Worm (warm) as can be.  Everything in it is very cozy.  It is a happy place.  Come and see.  Everyone in it are as nice as can be.  I love my sweet puppies outside my door and I love my worm (warm) bed.  It is nice.  Everything there is so full of love.  Everything there on rainy days are snug-a-bug!  Everyone there are happy and the kids will play with joy!

Not a New Year's Resolution Blog

Tonight while I was cleaning up the kitchen after a yummy dinner - dropped off by the most precious lady - a song called "Right Where You're Supposed to Be" by Jadon Lavik rolled over on the ol IPOD.  Have you heard it?  No?  Well here you go...you must read the lyrics. 

Look around what could I do
This place is unfamiliar and new
So I  try to look beyond what's right in front of me
Hope to be found how could this be true
Comfort came and left in such a hurry
So then what's on the other side of this tragedy

You wake up to find that you're right where supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day's a mystery
You wake up to find that you're right where you're supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you're right where you're meant to be

Look behind oh how we've grown
All the places we've been
The places I'll never never go back again
If I had only known that all was not lost
It always comes around again round again round again
Patiently waiting just waiting

til one day you find that you're right where supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day's a mystery
You wake up to find that you're right where you're supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you're right where you're meant to be

Now I see the reasons for all of those seasons wondering just how my life would connect
My life would connect but you knew all along all along

You wake up to find that you're right where you're supposed to be
Your heart's running wild and free each day's a mystery

You wake up to find that you're right where you're supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day's a mystery
You wake up to find that you're right where you're supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you're right where you're meant to be

You see...today, tonight I find myself right where I'm supposed to be.  Notice I said, supposed to be.  Not necessarily where I'd choose to be.  HUGE difference.    Three weeks ago, there was a little glimmer of hope that a sweet surprise might just pay us a visit in a few months.  Or nine.  Over the last weeks, our surprise has tried to slip away a few times, but is still hanging on.  And so we wait.  And pray.

And we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are right were we are supposed to be.

Can You Even STAND the Cuteness?

I know you think we have lost our minds, but today has been the BEST DAY EVER at our house.

The long awaited puppies came!

Are they here yet?

OH MY!

((excuse my beauty....today has been a big one))

Worn OUT!  This pic was taken about 10 minutes ago

Their names are Annie Sue and Honey.  Please don't tell Emma and Caroline that I named the dogs - they think they did!  These pups look exactly alike.  Punkin and Molly did not look alike, but they only way you can tell which pup you have is by looking at the collar.

Now, most of us have enjoyed the day.  But if you ask Andrew he's got a completely different opinion about it.  We're praying he comes around.

Tap, Tap, Tap....Is This Thing On?

I'm not fooling myself.  It's just fact that if you just stop blogging for over a month, then when you finally do decide to fire up the ol' blog....nobody will see it.  That's cause I've been deleted from your bloglines, favorites and your hearts and brains.

I miss that girl that used to have lots to say on her blog.  You know, the one who made her friends laugh and leave their own funny comments here and there. 

Where'd she go?

Maybe she packed up and went on vacation like my friend Susan. Or perhaps she just got stuck in the slow line at the Walmarts.  Or Albertsons.   Or maybe she is hiding.

Hiding?  Hiding behind what?  Just maybe she is hiding behind what you think she is...

• Neat, tidy and clean
• Spiritually got it together
• Homeschool mom who loves! it!
• cool, calm and collected
• dedicated weight watcher who rather lose 20 more lbs than eat a plate of loaded nachos

Y'all.  It's time to unpack the load.  It's getting pretty heavy.

• I have my house cleaned once a week.   Not by me. 
• I have not prayed today.  I tried and ended up writing out a list of all that HAD TO GET DONE TODAY
• I'm ready for summer vacation.  Or a least Thanksgiving break.
• I regularly lose my temper with one who just needs me to love her
• And I really, really want to eat some fully loaded nachos.  Really.

And since we last visited,  the Doodles turned SEVEN.

We've learned to roller blade AND had a great time at the birthday party.  Parties are not something that we do every year, but we sprang for it this year.  Our guests painted the CUTEST pumpkins, ate yummy pizza, and had a great time in our backyard - despite the rain!

What else?  I think that might be enough for today....unless you want to see some Super Bubbie smiles

And look at him all sleepy and snuggly

Just In Case...

You think I have crawled under the covers and STAYED there, I have decided to share a few tidbits about this week.

A tile on the floor of our shower busted.  The shower is now "on a break" until we can make a final decision on the new look.  (note: a new look in the bathroom isn't as fun as a new look in the current dining room waiting to be transformed into a living area)

The new kitchen table that was supposed to be red, you remember that one? It sat in the garage in all it's pink glory with the gashes in the front?  After  spending a brief time in the house as a green table, it's settled back in the garage sporting yet another new look.  Black.  With a hint of green.  Tomorrow it should be finished.  Maybe.  Unless I change my mind.  I'm good at that.   

Andrew has the stomach bug that Caroline had last week that I had the week before that Emma  had the week before me.  In case you are counting that is FOUR weeks of ickys. 

And not to be outdone by the master bath, the girl's bath has spring a leak.  IN THE TILE.  (see an obnoxious pattern?) and THEIR bathroom must be redone.  Except theirs is even more exciting!  The leak really out did itself and carried over through the wall to the playroom carpet!  New tile! New sheet rock! Right behind our new piano!   Fun times, people.  We've ripped up the carpet in nearly half our playroom.  Y'all.  Like I said, we are SO  giddy about our bathrooms right now.

So now we are down to one functional shower, but really....who wants to be the one to use it and spring a leak in that bathroom?

Last night the girls, mom and I went out to dinner and then to see The Lion King at Fair Park.  It was a great show!  I had seen it way back when I was pregnant with them in my youthful, more energetic days. (ha)

Anyway.  That's all I got. 

Wordless Wednesday....

It's the FIRST DAY of FIRST GRADE

Now, Billy Joe McGuffrey
was a really clumsy kid.
On the first day of first grade
I'll tell you what he did.
He tripped over a pencil box,
flew up in the air,
landed on a kangaroo
who pulled out all his hair!
He needed first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade,
first aid in the first grade.
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid.

In case you didn't catch it, today was the FIRST DAY of FIRST GRADE!  Actually, yesterday was the first homeschool day of first grade, however, that didn't hold quite the magic of singing about Billy Joe McGuffery all the way to our school. 

How amazing is it that today I dropped off two first graders?  One with zero front teeth? The other with a desperate need to loose some teeth? We are so excited about the school year starting up!  New things to learn!  (all three of us) FOUR new girls in our class!  New friends!  Seeing old ones again! So much fun.  As soon as I hit the publish button, I am off to finish organzing our stuff. 

In other news....today is the FIRST day in two weeks that I don't have my new friends hanging around.  You know, the counter guy, the plumber, a few more counter guys, the contractor, and my favorite painters.  Whew.  Pics to come soon, I promise!  However, we've been busting our tails getting the house in back in order for my grandfather's ninety-third birthday bash here on Saturday.

Never a dull moment.

What More Does a Guy Need? A Hat, a Backpack....he's good!