Happy Birthday, Mom! October 7, 2008

Today is my mom’s birthday, so I wanted to give a little shout-out to her!  I won’t announce how old she is…you wouldn’t believe me, anyway, she looks at least a decade younger than she really is.  (One of the many characteristics I hope I inherit!)

Growing up my mom and I were always close.  We always spent a lot of time together.  Whether it was shopping, cooking, talking or just hanging out, I remember always wanting to be with her.  As I’ve gotten older and have become a mom myself, I appreciate her even more.   I am so thankful for the role she has played in my life and for the role she is playing in my childrens’ lives.

Mom, thank you so much for the encouragement you have been to me and for all of the advice you have given me,  whether it’s about cooking, raising children, how to be an encouragement to my husband, or being a part of ministry.  Thank you for your listening ear and your wisdom over the years.  Thank you for showing me how to love God, love my family and love other people more.  I love and appreciate you more than you know.  Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, LaLa September 23, 2008

Just wanted to give a Happy Birthday shout-out to my sister, Larissa (or LaLa as my children have affectionately named her)! 

I have lots of funny memories of Larissa and I growing up.  She is five years older than me and I was always the annoying little sister.  I was always in her business.  We shared a room until she was a junior in high school.  I loved it, I know she hated it!  I would try to be like her, sneaking in her make-up and perfume, eavesdropping on her phone conversations with her friends and boyfriends.  (She only thought I was fast asleep!)

I don’t think Larissa even liked me until I was in my sophomore or junior year in high school.   That’s when she would come home from college on the weekends and we would spend time together, shopping, hanging out and just talking. 

I knew I was truly her friend, not just her annoying little sister when I was a senior in high school thinking about where I was going to attend college.  Towards the end of my senior year she asked me if I wanted to move in with her in Orlando while I attended UCF.  WHAT?  My big sister who has a real job and a real life wants ME to live with her?  Of course I jumped at the opportunity and of course I dragged Leigh Ann with me and we all lived together my freshman year of college.  Fun times, fun times…

Over the past few years, we’ve shared a lot, fought some, cried a lot and laughed a lot.  I love you, Larissa and I’m so glad you’re my sistah!  I hope your day is great.  Eat lots of cake and enjoy every minute of it!

Larissa, Tim (my twin), and me

Week in Review August 31, 2008

Lots of things have happened in the last week or so that I just haven’t made the time to blog about.  I decided to show you what we’ve been up to…enjoy the pictures!

Emma lost her first tooth last week.  When she asked me about the tooth fairy, I told her, “All I know is that she is tall and thin and beautiful.”  Her response was, “Is it Staci?”  (I know that made Staci feel great!)  Emma was so proud and couldn’t wait to go to school and put her name on the Lost Tooth chart!

 

Barry completed his first triathlon last Saturday.  He did awesome, placing 5th overall.  Way to go, Babe!  We were all able to make it out to cheer him on.  I sure was glad it wasn’t me who had to run through all of that standing water that Fay left behind.  (YUK!)  He was a trooper!  (And no, not everyone who trains for a triathlon looks this good!)

 

Ansley was the first student in her preK class chosen to bring her class mascot, Delphina the dolpin home for the weekend.  She was so excited to bring her to Melbourne overnight! 

 

Jackson is getting so big…I think this picture shows how grown up he is. 

 

My brother and his wife, Tim and Robin, came down from Tennessee for a visit with their daughter, Kylie this past week.  Kylie will be turning a year old next week, so my parents threw her a little birthday party for the family on Friday night.  We had fun, but I’m not sure she liked the cake so much!  Happy Birthday, Kylie.  We loved spending time with you celebrating your first year.  Now that you live a little closer, we hope to see you more in your second year of life than we did your first!  We love you!

 

First Day of Pre-K August 20, 2008

Ansley was really disappointed that Fay postponed her first day of school.  She was supposed to start yesterday, but instead got to start today.  She was really excited and couldn’t wait to get dressed and get out the door.  (If you know Ansley, you know this is not typical behavior…let’s just say that I use the phrase “Hurry up”  with her about a dozen times every morning!)  I was happy to see her so excited and eager to start her school year.   Everything went well her first day, except for the fact that they didn’t get to play on the playground.  She made lots of new friends and can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

Ansley, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you.  We can’t believe that you are already starting Pre-K!  We know you will do great at school.  We love you and we are looking forward to a great school year!

It was odd having just Jackson with me today.  I almost didn’t know what to do with myself!  (almost!)  We started off the morning with breakfast with Angie at Morning Glories for her birthday.  Happy birthday, Angie!  I’m so glad you were born and that you are a part of my life.  Your friendship means more to me than you know! 

First Day Jitters August 18, 2008

Well, to be honest, Emma wasn’t nervous at all…I was more jittery than she was. 

This morning I was in the kitchen making a back to school breakfast for Emma and Ansley.  (Don’t give me too much credit, it was Pillsbury cinnamon rolls from a can.)  I was just about to go get her out of bed so that she would have plenty of time to get ready, when she walks in the kitchen, completely dressed, shoes on, hair brushed and announces that she has already made her bed and is ready for first grade! 

After I walked Emma to her hallway, I watched my little girl walk over to the kids in her class (which has no one from her Kindergarten room) and start talking to the other kids like she’s known them forever.  I was so proud of her…I would have been a nervous wreck.  I told her goodbye and had to ask for a hug.  (She’s so independent!)  I was happy to walk away and not have to worry about her during the day.  I said a quick prayer for her and I knew she would be fine.

When I picked Emma up this afternoon, she was full of energy, telling me how great first grade is and how “it is much differenter than Kindergarten…you don’t get to play, EVER!”  If you know Emma, you won’t be surprised to know that she said that with a smile on her face…she loves school! 

Emma, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and the confident little girl you have become.  We hope you have a great year in first grade!

 

 

“You’re the Best Mommy Evah!” August 4, 2008

That’s what Ansley (my 4 year old) tells me when…

• I make her favorite dinner
• I take her swimming
• we go to the beach
• I give her chocolate
• I let her pick out a treat at the grocery store

…you get the picture.  Basically, whenever her wants are met, in her eyes, there’s no one better than the person who fulfilled those wants. 

Tonight we were just snuggling on the recliner, not doing anything particularly wonderful or out of the ordinary when she said those same words to me, “Mommy, you’re the best Mommy EVAH!”  It was really sweet when she said it this time, like she really meant it, not just because I was giving her something or taking her somewhere fun, but just because. 

I love moments like this…it makes me want to keep my kids little forever!

Weekend Recap August 3, 2008

Okay, so I know I’m not the most consistent blogger…I’ll try to catch you up on what’s been going on these last few days…

Barry preached this morning and did an amazing job…seriously…I know I’m probably a little bit biased, but I think he had an incredible message about allowing God to fight our battles.   He claims that he gets really nervous before he speaks, but I can never tell…he’s a natural.   I’m proud of you, baby, and I know you’re glad it’s over!

So, in order to give him lots of uninterrupted study time on the days leading up to today, the kids and I packed up and headed to Melbourne.  It was good for Barry to have a quiet home to prepare his sermon and, I’m not gonna lie, it was good for me to not have to deal with the stress of making sure he was not interrupted by the kids!

While we were in Melbourne, we got to spend some time with my parents and Barry’s mom.  One day we spent some time with some family friends who live on a lake and Emma and Jackson went for a ride on jet skis!  (Ansley liked hanging out by the shore…she wasn’t quite ready to venture out on a motorized vehicle!)  Emma had a ball and Jackson wasn’t quite sure what to think. 

We got some back to school shopping done (I can’t believe school starts in 2 weeks!) and just enjoyed hanging out with our family. 

Everybody was very happy to see Daddy when we got back on Saturday!  We all napped after church today (Sunday afternoon naps are the best!) and ended the night with a little “High School Musical Get In the Picture”.  Those kids are REALLY good!  

I’m off to bed now…good night!

Things that made me smile today… July 24, 2008

• Getting to sleep until 8:30!
• Hitting the Target toy sale and finding stuff for my birthday/Christmas stash.
• Having a yummy lunch with Heather.
• Watching Jackson play with Brady…they’ve GOT to be the cutest 1 year old boys EVER!
• Listening to Kelsea and Ansley play and sound so grown up.
• Swimming 1000 yards without stopping…and feeling pretty good when I was done.  (BIG accomplishment!)
• Even though she wasn’t feeling well, Emma asking if we could go run a mile together.  (By the way, she ran almost an entire mile 2 days ago…I was so proud of her!)  We didn’t go tonight, but the fact that she WANTED to do it made me smile!
• Mexican night at home.  (Fajitas…yummy!)
• Watching Jackson run with the football through the living room waiting to be tackled.
• Reading out loud to my girls from the book “The Boxcar Children”, one of the first chapter books I read as a little girl.
• Making plans to go the beach with the Bledsoe’s tomorrow.
• Chillin’ on the couch with my husband, getting ready to watch the results for “So You Think You Can Dance.”
• My husband watching “So You Think You Can Dance” with me.

Weekend Review July 21, 2008

We had a weekend filled with lots of fun.  Friday night we spent some time with some good friends and said goodbye to Chris and Lisa Markham.  Chris and Lisa have been great friends to us over the last few years and they are moving to Jacksonville.  We are so sad to see them leave!  Chris and Lisa, y’all are in our prayers as you move away…God has big things in store for you guys!

Saturday we celebrated Kelsea’s 4th birthday with some bouncing fun at SliderZ.  The girls had a great time.  It was so cute to see Ansley and Kelsea playing together…they hadn’t seen each other in about 3 weeks and they were glued to each others’ side…BFFs!

Church was awesome yesterday.  I missed out on Byron’s first sermon in the series “Hey Jude”,  but I was able to be there for the second one and can’t wait for next week.  The service was challenging to me personally and reminded me that Christ has given me EVERYTHING I need for life and godliness.  I loved the worship set we did…especially “Cannons”… awesome words…you can check them out here.

Sunday night Barry and I went out with some friends to celebrate Staci’s birthday.   We had dinner at this place…quite an experience.  The food was great, but the atmosphere is what this restaurant is known for…belly dancers, fire dancers, everybody dancing on tables, loud music…crazy fun!

It was a great weekend but I was pooped last night…it was way too late to blog.  Now it’s Monday and the day is almost over!  (Where did the time go?!?)  Gotta go think about what I’m making for dinner now…I REALLY need to go to the grocery store.  Hmmm…what can I make with black beans, peanut butter and chicken?  

Hope everyone had a happy Monday!

Creative Play July 16, 2008

I’ve really enjoyed having all the kids home this summer.  Emma and Ansley have been playing really well together.  Of course they ARE sisters and they definitely have their moments of NOTenjoying each others’ company, but for the most part, they play well together.  I’ve tried to limit their TV watching this summer which has forced them to find other things to do.  It’s funny, even with all the toys, games, books, and puzzles we have, they usually choose to be creative and use their imaginations. 

I love listening to their conversations when they don’t think I can hear them.  Here’s a conversation I overheard today:

Emma:  Come on, Kaitlyn (Ansley’s name while they’re playing), let’s go see your boyfriend.

Ansley:  He’s not my boyfriend anymore.  I dumped him.

Emma:  Why’d you dump him?

Ansley:  Because he likes cats and he keeps talking about them.

What an imagination she has!  (But for the future, Ansley, you should never date a guy that only wants to talk about his cats.)