Proverbs 22:6

"Train a child up in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

That's what we intend to do.

God laid it on my heart to homeschool my children.

I said yes.

Logan Update

My precious Logan is getting big so fast. He amazes me everyday with his tender heart, and warm spirit. He's sooooo loving and giving that it just melts me. He's going to be such a great husband and father.

Logan has really blossomed in TPK (Therapeutic Pre Kindergaten). His teachers and therapists dote on him, and say he's on target to graduate in time for kindergarten. He's already mastered one goal... maybe more! We'll find out how he did last semester soon. He's reading site words, writing all his letters and even doing math. I'm so proud of him!

I still get stuck in the "why me"s from time to time, but I remember what an incredible journey, and blessing this has been. Don't get me wrong, I still get waves of brokeness from time to time- but they've gotten few and far between. I'm really working hard on enjoying the moment, because life is short, and they're only little once... and it's for such a short time.

We just signed Logan up for piano lessons (his first lesson is tomorrow!) and he's really excited about it! He loves music so much, and my hubby has been working with him now and then, but we decided it's time for him to have a professional teacher. I'm excited, but a little nervous. Logan does have OCD, so if something is not "just right" aka exactly what he's expecting, then he could have an episode- but I'm praying everything will be smooth sailing and he enjoys learning about music. My hubby and I both love music- my DJ is so talented, if you could just hear the music he composes he'd amaze you too- so I pray that Logan takes to it.

I also have some exciting news to share... but that deserves it's own post.

Lily Update

My sweet little Lily has been getting bigger by the minute, sometimes I just can't keep up! She's learning new words everyday, and putting together two and three word sentences. She's even telling up when she has pooped or peed... I can feel our potty training days getting closer and closer. The other day, I took her to Babies-R-Us to pick out ANY potty she wanted. Can you guess what she picked?? ELMO of course!! She LOVES Elmo. She thinks DJ's laptop is an "Elmo machine" because of the countless times the two of them have watched it on YouTube.

My Lily has just been a light in our family. She's bright and cheerful (except when she's not), she has real passion and is the best little Mommy. She dotes on her dolls, giving them milk (a fake bottle) and wrapping them up for bed. Her new favorite game is to play "Night Night", forcing any willing adult to lay on the ground while she gives you "milk", a baby, covers you with a blanket, gives you a kiss, and bends over you with her pointer finger over her month proclaiming "shhhh shhhh".

Her hair is getting longer and thicker every day! She is, however, still sporting the rockin mullet. I've been trying since day one to put bows in her hair- but she just wont keep them in!! But, the other day, she had me put every bow she could find in her hair. I'm all about self expression, so I put 'em all in with a big smile on my face.

Lately, Lily has started throwing tantrums when she doesn't get her way. I'm hoping this is a quick stage- but like I said, she's got passion ;)

Full Swing

Now that Halloween is over, the Christmas season is in full swing! I've started making my lists, planning Holiday menus, and even got a lot of my Christmas shopping DONE. My goal for this year is to have everything bought (and wrapped) the weekend after Thanksgiving.

This year, I'd like to enjoy the season with out all the stress of buying presents. I'm thinking of doing a cookie exchange with my girlfriends, maybe having a Christmas dinner with some couple friends and really enjoying spending time with my family! It's going to be the best year yet ;)

Lily is at such a fun age, and she's going to love opening the presents. Logan's just getting into "big boy" stuff- so we're having a blast picking out gift for him. I just love this time of year! I'm going to soak it all in.

I'm ready for fall

But, apparently the south... is not.

It's so hot- we're melting here! I can't wait to put my kids in their cute long sleeved clothes. I keep saying to myself "any day now, any day now..."

I will not be complaining about the cold this winter (not that it actually gets cold, per se, but 50s and 60s is cold for us).

Clearing the Clutter

Well, after months of purging, organizing, and redecorating- I think we finally got it! I'm loving the look of our house now- it feels like a new home!!

Here are some photos (in no certain order mostly because I'm not gadget girl and this is the best I could do uploading multiple pictures on blogger)

The Dinning room

Formal living room

Master bath

A cute model

Master bedroom

Art work in the dining room

One view of the formal living room

Family room

This is above the family room couch (that's my husbands hair, hehe)

She kept following me around saying "cheese, cheese"

Above the kitchen sink

Above the microwave

Happy Halloween

Well, our weekend didn't go as planned. I feel like God has a funny way of reminding me that I'm not in control...

I spent hours planning and working on costumes and a "spooky menu" (which consisted of bat wings, deviled eyes, and maggots and cheese... but I digress) and Saturday morning I woke up not feeling very well. But, in good spirit, I got up and got ready for Logan's EIGHT THIRTY soccer game, came home dropped the Lily off (Logan went home with my mother in law) and ran a quick errand.

When I got home Lily was still napping so I decided to lay down and get some shut eye- but when I woke up I was so sick I couldn't move. I rolled out of bed and laid on the couch while Lily had a snack. Then Doug announced from the bedroom he was sick, too!! We did what we could between the two of us, but poor Lily sat in the pack n play watching Nick Jr for longer than I care to share. I kept looking at the clock saying "6 more shows till bedtime. 5 more shows till bedtime..."

Finally, at 5 pm my mother in law came and got her! She had both kids overnight and they spent all day today (Sunday) over there.

That wasn't exactly the "family fun day" I had planned.

So, I spent the day cleaning and disinfecting every inch of this house.

When the kids got home, Logan had 100.1 fever... a great way to start the evening! But, I have him some motrin, got the kids dressed and headed out for some Halloween fun! Hopefully he'll be on the mend soon.

Doug and I both feel better (thank God) but still not 100%. This virus was fast and furious.

Don't Blink

Because your sweet baby boy will soon turn FIVE!

Happy (belated) FIFTH Birthday Logan

10/14/05

40 Days

Recently I went on a 40 day television fast... actually I haven't watched TV since so I guess it's a 42 day fast now.

I really felt convicted that I was watching too much television, and decided I'd like to focus my attention on other areas of my life: like my family, and friends.

I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it- but it was easier than I thought!! I missed all the premiers of my favorite shows, and I didn't even care! I now spend my evenings talking to my husband, playing bored games and reading. I'd like to invest time into sewing- something I LOVE doing, but don't have much time for.

We're not sure what the "TV future" holds for us... but we're very close to canceling cable.

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday we took the kids to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving... we ended up taking home 5 pumpkins and one gored. I couldn't help myself! I love this time of year (even though it's still 90 degrees outside) and watching my kids frolic in the hay made my day!

After the pumpkin patch we headed down to the near by mall to go for train rides and dinner.

It was an awesome day!

Pictures!

I'm so excited right now, because we're finally able to upload our pictures onto our computer again!! You see, my hard drive was full- what with 20,000 pictures and all (no joke)- so I haven't been able to upload pictures from my camera to the computer.

BUT, we got a new computer, cleaned up my old hard drive AND voila! pictures again.

Soon, I will be able to have posts with pictures.

It's the simple things in life ;)

It's not just the garage...

I wish I could blame all my, ahem, clutter on my wonderful Mother in law, but the truth is it's a problem we've had since moving here 6 years ago.

I'm an "everything in it's place" girl, and the fact is we just don't have a place for everything. And, I believe, that's because we simply have too much!!

So far, I've gone through each closet and got rid of clothes that don't fit/have a stain/or damaged. I've also gone through the kids toys, and if it was broken it got thrown away. Any unnecessary toy got given to family with little or no toys. Since then, my kids are actually playing better! They enjoy the toys they have, and can find them (imagine that!).

I've filed all paperwork and have a place for unpaid bills- I'm finding it less stressful because I know where everything is!!

By nature, I'm a "piler". I make a pile for everything... I'm working on that! At the end of the day, I have a pile for Lily's stuff, Logan's stuff, unpaid bills, laundry, stuff that needs to go in my car, etc. But, each night I'm taking 15 extra minutes to clear the piles (well, the one's that can be cleared). This makes my mornings easier and less stressful. I think once I find a home for every orphaned item, that task will be easier, too!

For now, I'm enjoying cutting the clutter. It's cathartic!

Less is MORE

Alternately titled: Out with old, in with the... well NOTHING hopefully.

We have too much stuff. We live in a beautiful home, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and adequate living space. Our problem, however, is we have too much stuff!!

I am a purger- I always have been, always will be. I do hold on to somethings for sentimental value, but my hard and fast rule is "if it hasn't been used/worn in 6 months (with the exception of seasonal items) it's going to Good Will". My hubby on the other hand has clothes that he wore his senior year of high school... no seriously he does. Which would be totally fine if he wasn't adding to his collection- but he is... and it's craziness.

My mother in law is a self proclaimed "stuff girl". She knows how to place it, stack it, pack it, fit it, and organize it. She's an interior designer and her home is beautiful; it looks like a showroom for a magazine. However, it's not functional for a family of 4 and not functional for a stay at home mom with two small children.

Anyway, in love, she passes down stuff to me. I in the past, have purged the things I don't want- then she says "I see you don't have the [insert purged item here] out anymore. May I have it back?" Me "uh....."

So now, after being questioned several times, I have kept things I'm not using in order to ahem avoid having an awkward conversation. Now I have a garage full of stuff I don't want. FULL.

Today, I'm purging. Out with the old, in with the... well NOTHING.

I'm learning to be content with what I have.

Playgroup

When I was pregnant with Logan, I joined our local MOMS club. I didn't know anyone else that was having a baby, and I really wanted to connect with people in the same life stage.

For a time, it was the perfect fit. We went on field trips, had monthly meetings, had Holiday parties, and made friends (that were all with in 5 miles!). But the great thing about the MOMS club was the weekly playgroup. We met every Friday morning at 10am and would have 2-15 kids at any given time! Each person on the "playgroup roster" would take a turn hosting in their home.

But, as time went on an the children got older, our chapter of the MOMS club got very small. Many members were phasing out because their older children were school age, and wrapped up in other actives.

Logan and I were very involved in the club. I even served on the board two years in a row, VP the first year, President the second.

There were some negative things about the club- but overall it was so much fun, and kept us busy for three years.

The last year I was in the club, my very close friend (and fellow MC member) got pregnant with sextuplets. A member of the club, E, came to me and asked if I would like to help her with an event she was putting together to help raise money for sextuplet's family. Of course, I was eager to help!!

As I got more involved in the "Baby Shower", I started to witness something I've never seen before. My partner, E, wasn't doing this shower for the family- she was doing it to glorify the Lord. The more I got to know her, the more I wanted to be around her. I was a "lost Christian" when she found me, wondering around the same mountain for years until she picked me up turned me around and put me on the right path. She became (and still is) my "Spiritual Mother".

We held the event at her Church. It was perfect- AND we raised over $1,000 for the family!!

Over time "her Church" became MY Church, and I'm so happy it did.

Anyway, after the shower, our friendship continued. We had SO much in common, and we were spending lots of time together.... and when we weren't together, we were talking on the phone.


Our friendship grew, and so did our bellies! We got pregnant at the exact same time!! We were only eight days apart!! It was so wonderful experiencing such a special thing with someone so special to me.

Now, we get together with another sweet friend and our little ones play while we have playgroup. It's the BEST set up EVER!! No MC drama, no gossip, no negative talk. Just slightly inappropriate jokes, Starbucks coffee, and friends.

Football

It has been an incredible summer for us! Our family truly enjoyed spending the hot summer days (and nights, and mornings, and afternoons) together.

But, now it's time to get back on track and on a schedule... or somewhat of a routine.

One day while Logan was watching a movie, he expressed interest in "joining a team". Excited, I signed him up for the next available sport. Football.

Practices are once a week in the evening, and he has 8am games on Saturday morning- which probably sounds awful for y'all, but here on the surface of the sun it's actually the BEST time for a game, cause it's only 94 degrees outside at that hour.

This is Logan's first exposure to team sports, and all things considered he's done really well. He has a young coach, and he's so patient with Logan- and all the others. We have the smallest team, so the past two games we've "borrowed" a player from the other team ;)

In the beginning of the game, Logan's excited and running; but the end of the game he's chasing dragonflies. He even ran the other direction when he had the ball last week ;)

I just love spending my time watching my kids grow and learn.

Strangers in the Rain

One dark and stormy night (okay, it wasn't dark- but it WAS raining!) I was driving my very young toddler down the slippery street. It had just started raining and I was on my way home from a VERY long day. My husband had been sent to the emergency room from work, and my eighteen month old was staying with my Mom. Once he got the all clear to leave (he was fine, just a REALLY bad case of indigestion), he drove home while I picked up Logan.

I was going about 65 miles an hour on a busy street- I was rushing cause I was exhausted and so ready to be home. Before I knew it, my car was spinning and totally out of control. After what seemed like hours, I stalled to a stop on the side of the VERY busy road and I climbed out of my car. We weren't hurt, but I had no idea what happened. I did a "check of the lights" on my dash, but everything seemed fine.

So, I got out of my car to see if everything was okay. What was once a tire was shredded all over the road. There was nothing on my rim. Nothing.

I didn't know what to do, so I pulled Logan out of the car, put him in an umbrella stroller (in the rain remember) because I was more concerned that someone would ram into us going, well, 65 miles an hour.

You see, it was rush hour, on a busy street, with NO side walk, no bike lane, nothing.

After I get Logan safely buckled in, I call my husband. Who calls his Mom. Who calls her husband. They're all AT LEAST 45 minutes away from me, and I'm standing in the pouring rain with a toddler on a busy street. Of course we call AAA but what I really wanted was a dry place to put my baby (and myself, but of course, him first).

All of sudden a big white beat up truck pulls up behind me. A tall dark middle aged man came running towards me.

At that moment I said a silent prayer, and looked around me. The cars came rushing by like I was a nobody, and my only witnesses were the 30 goats in the field next to me.

By the time he got to me, he was screaming "open your trunk" over the roar of the rain.

I had to think fast, because surely this would be the time and place that I would die. I pushed Logan's stroller as close to the goats as possible and asked God to please let a family member find him if I nor the car were no longer here. I gripped my keys between my fingers and I held my cell phone as tight as I possibly could. I thought if he threw me in the car I could at least call 911, or I could do that thing I saw on Oprah one time and kick out the tail light. I just hoped that he didn't knock me out first.

I did what he said out of fear. He worked fast. He moved all my "mom gear" from the trunk to the back seat. And then he did the unthinkable.

He lifted the carpet and used this crazy looking square tool and started spinning it. Then from underneath the car popped out my spare tire.

There he was, in the pouring rain, changing my tire. A stranger's tire. Just then my husband calls me.

I answer the phone. He asks my a barage of questions, none of which I can remember now. All I remember asking him is "what should I do?" He told me, "Give him all the cash you have. Everything in your wallet."

It took the man several minutes to finish, and by the time he had my husband was less than a mile away.

I pulled out my wallet and handed him the money.

He wouldn't take it. He just said (and this is not an exact quote cause it's been several years but this is as close as it gets) "My rewards are not of this world. I'm building my treasures in Heaven."

Yes you are.

And let me tell you, that was a defining moment for me. I'll never forget that man and what he did for me that day. I look forward to telling him that in "person" when we're in Glory.

I'm up in the Nursery

Mother, oh Mother
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as
Little Boy Blue.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due.
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned through my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...

Poem written by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

A Father's Celebration!

Well, this year Father's Day, and my husband's birthday were a day apart!

So, my wonderful hubby had TWO days of celebration!

We kicked off on Friday when we picked up the cookie bouquet I ordered for him. It's so hard to buy presents for him, and I wanted to get something that I knew he would love, so I got a "musical" cookie bouquet. It had guitars and stars and tickets on it... it was sooo cute! On Sunday, I packed up the kids and took them to church. We got to see my Dad for a little bit (and he got to check out Lily's new walking trick!). Then, we came home and I made lunch for me and Doug and the kids. We relaxed and did just want my hubby wanted- a whole lot of nothing.

Then, we stopped by my in-laws for a little bit in the afternoon. Then, we put the kids to bed early and had a little time for ourselves.

The next day, was my husband's birthday! I spent the morning running around and gathered up all his favorite things. First stop- Target to pick up a DVD he wanted Logan to have; then we went to Publix to pick up his cake; then we went to Dunkin Donuts to get and eclair and coffee; and finally Subway to get there new breakfast sandwich (only TWO points!).

The day went a little different than expected, because we took Logan to an impromptu Dr apt (more on that later). So while I whisked Logan away, Daddy and Lily spent some quality time together.

My Mom came over around 4 o'clock and we took the kid and picked up Outback for the whole crew (My parents/DJ's parents/our family). It was nice to sit around our kitchen table and not have the stress of cooking/cleaning up after a party. Then we sang and cut the cake that Logan picked out earlier that morning.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate a wonderful man!

Thank you, honey, for all you do for our family. Your hard work, kind spirit, and gentle touch are some of the reasons I love you so much. You're an amazing Dad, and I fall in love with you more and more everyday!

Weight Watchers

Well , I decided once and for all I HAVE to get rid of this baby weight!! So, I decided to join weight watchers online.

I'm soooo excited about it, because I'm able to eat the foods I make and still lose weight.

When I got pregnant with Logan, I was already over weight; and by the time he was a year old I was back at my PRE DELIVERY date!! So, I worked my butt off (litterally)


and lost 70 pounds, and kept it off for a year.

It did help that my mother-in-law joined a weight loss clinic,
And lost 50 pounds... I didn't want to be the woman who's Mom is hotter than her :)


Then when I got pregnant with Lily, I vowed NOT to gain a ton a weight and to be back at my pre prego weight with in three months of delivery. Well, I didn't gain a ton of weight (only 39) BUT it's been 15 months and I'm still closer to my delivery weight then my pre pregnancy weight :/

So, I joined Weight Watchers Online in the hopes to lose 30 pounds by Christmas. I'm super excited about it (I LOVE the iPhone app) and I've already lost 4 pounds!


Only 31 more to go!!

Where Does Time GO?

June 2009

June 2010

Where does time GO?