Summer Fun at Granny's House

We spent the week at my Mom's house this week.  Chris has been with the youth group in St. Louis.  They were at Know Sweat.  It's a Christ In Youth (CIY) conference.  They've been doing work at a lady's house painting and staining.  It's been hard work in this heat.  Since Daddy's been gone, we decided to head to Granny's house.  We haven't been there since Christmas and I needed to see my family. 
We watched movies, went to the splash park, visited some good friends, released a snapping turtle back into the lake, and just had a great time.  I think we wore my family out.  My Mom said the noise level went down several decibels after we left. :o)  Then she giggled. I think she's worried they'll forget who she is between visits. What do you think?  


Best Buds!




They liked to snuggle!

 I think they know exactly who she is.  The boys make her a little nervous, but don't get on to them for it because she'll get you!  Learned that one the hard way. LOL  Mom is on medication that makes her pretty tired so we went into town a few times to let her nap.  Grove has a great splash park.  It's only been there a few years.  The boys really enjoyed it with their cousin Rashawn.


I took a picture of Rashawn taking the boys picture.



They liked shooting me with the water cannon. :o)

We really had a good visit and the boys have been thoroughly spoiled by Granny, Nanny and Ryan.  Momma mentioned they might make a visit here for Thanksgiving.  I hope she's up to it because that would be awesome! 

Here's what we've been up to.....

This summer has been a whirlwind of activity. Chris spent the last 2 weeks at church camp.  I'm glad he is doing something he loves but we all miss him something fierce when he's gone.  He didn't come home completely sick from allergies this year.  That's a BIG improvement!  The first week was okay because the boys were busy.  The second week I had to work 3 out of the 5 week days.  Towards the end they started crying for Daddy.  You might think they liked him or something. :o)  We did spend one day and night up there visiting last Monday and Tuesday.  I think Daddy was missing his boys too.
This week I worked Monday and Tuesday so we had a little play time yesterday.  This morning we met Shannon Altic and her kiddos at the Legends to play.  The weather was just perfect!  God knew I needed a relaxing day.  Plus I love my friend Shannon and we haven't seen each a lot lately. (Did I mention that this summer was busy.)  The boys LOVED to see the dinosaurs! 
Afterwards, the boys & I went to Target.  I had to get some arch supports for my shoes for work.  If working so much this week has taught me anything, it's that I have high arches and my shoes don't.  I got Walk/Fit arch supports at the recommendation of one of the girls I work with.  I'm praying they work.  I couldn't hardly step down on my feet when I got home last week.  It says it takes 3 to 4 weeks to get your feet used to them.  I'm hoping for a good result. :o) 
Chris was told by the doctor to get more "active" this week.  I knew this was coming and I've put it off way too long.  We're both going to have to start exercising.  I want to be around when my kids grow up.  It's a huge commitment but I believe we can do it. 

Noah sleeping at camp....naptime!



Nathan loves his bunk....church camp!!!



Future preacher



Carpet ball!




They actually played well together. :o)



Summertime....when the living is easy!

I decided to take the boys to the park yesterday by myself.  Previously that did not work out so well, but I'm always ready to try again.  They were really good!  No crying when it was time to leave.  Here's a few pictures of them having fun.


Come on....take my picture Mom!



The Poser

They love the slides on this one.

So today Noah woke me up saying...."Mooooommm I wanna go swimming!"  About 10:30, I began scrubbing up their little pool.  We filled it up and....


Nathan thinks he's such a dude!




Splashorama!!!




Cheese...or cheesy :o)




Chillaxin' with a popsicle and dipping the toes. ( I love this one)

 So far, it's been a good Monday!  "Summertime....when the living is easy!"  Now it's naptime and I am working on the bulletin for Sunday and thinking about having a snooze too. Have a great summer everyone!

So many things on my mind!

I'm trying to think what to blog about, but my mind is racing. My dear friend Shannon is in the hospital with a post surgery infection. Please pray the IV antibiotics work quickly. She's a pretty sick girl.

My boss is getting married on April 8th. She is sooo excited. We are all happy for her at the pharmacy. Her fiancé' is an awesome guy and he makes her smile all the time. Congratulations Melissa and Tim!

My 4 yr old got his shots for Kindergarten yesterday. Is he really old enough for full time school? Wow! Where have the last 4 years gone? His daddy took him by the school he will be attending. Nathan promptly counted how many play grounds were there and came home to tell me. Priorities! They are mostly sleeping through the night with the occasional trip to our room around 3am to 5am for bad dreams. This is a blessing! Now I wish I could sleep all night. I'm going to have to retrain myself how to do that.

I've been in a funk lately. I have zero energy or will to do anything. I do it....I just don't want to. I feel like I could sleep all the time, but when I lay down I can't sleep for a good hour or more. Any suggestions? I'm trying to motivate myself to get into an exercise program but my motivation is truly lacking here. I need to do this! God and I have been discussing this, but I know I'm going to be the one to cave in and exercise. He hasn't sent me the perfect figure by my just asking. LOL!! Come on....you know you want to chuckle!

My sweetie is taking Master's degree classes. He really wants to do this program, but it's a lot of work. This is the thing he has decided to do for himself. He's trying to improve his mind. I'm encouraging him as much as I can. (I thought his mind was great anyway! ;o)) I am the proofreader. Dear Anita proofed his final paper for his first class. I have been nominated for the little papers....actually I volunteered. He's going to do fine. It's actually pretty interesting reading. I get a little Sunday school lesson every time I proof a paper. :o)

My nephew Ryan is a senior this year. I've always said he's part mine. He is going to his senior prom tonight. He's going to look SHARP! I've seen a couple of pictures of him trying on his tux. I wish I was able to be there in person, but my sister has promised pictures later. I have a couple of pics, but I can't post them until tomorrow. Strict orders from his Mom. If I can be nostalgic for a minute, I remember when he was born. He looked like a treasure troll with all that hair! He's a pretty cool teenager. I miss seeing him more. Before Chris and I met, he was a fixture in my room. He'd just come in and hang. I love that. Now my boys do that. I'm not super cool but they never notice that. I love all three of these boys, mine and Sandy's. :o)

One more prayer request before I'm done. My sister, T, is job searching. Please pray that she can find a job that provides a decent income and a pleasant work environment. She is really struggling with her current job and I pray for an end to that stress. Thanks!

Well...I guess I've rambled enough for today. I've got to go fix lunch. I hope all my friends and family have a great day!

Updates & Appreciation

Well....Nathan's Valentine's party went well.  A great time was had by all!  He & Daddy even made me a placemat.  Noah made me a Valentine at daycare.  That night I was met by all 3 guys at the daycare.  Chris brought over my swimsuit and we got to lounge in the Bullard hottub for a while.  Nice!  I gotta get me one of those!  Then my guys wisked me off to Red Robin for dinner.  The only problem was that there was an hour wait for dinner and I had hungry babies.  (Did I mention that my sweetie also brought me a dress to wear?  Where did I find him?!?!?! )  We ended up at Big Boy's and loved every minute of it.  My little carnivores ate every bite of their dinner.  I'd say my Valentine's day was awesome!  I got to spend it with a 3 of my special guys. :o)
We have also experience our first parent/teacher conference with Nathan.  I think Chris was really worried, but I have helped conduct a conference so I wasn't too worried.  Nathan is doing great.  He has a few things we are working on to get ready for Kindergarten.  I have to say that I admire our homeschooling moms in our church.  They are awesome!  I will NOT be following in their footsteps.  Nathan learns better when Mama is not teaching class.  We've tried it....he just responds better to a classroom setting.  I think he needs that discipline for now.  We have been very lucky that his first teacher is wonderful!  She is so willing to work with him and any ideas I can give her are always welcome.  He prays for her every night so I know she has made a wonderful impression on him.  His problem is that he doesn't like to share very well. (What 4 yr old does?)  We are working on those social skills at home.  We'll see how it goes....
Finally, I saved the best for last.  I know I've mentioned that my hubby helps quite a bit.  I don't know if I said how much I appreciate him.  He loves me and our boys without reservation.  (It still freaks him out when my family tells him they love him, but he'll get used to it in 30 yrs or so :o))  He is leading our children in a Godly manner that I adore.  My 2yr old even tries to pray at the dinner table.  You can see Chris' influence on them and God's influence on Chris.  I've seen many types of relationships and I am so thankful that God put this man in my path.  We are coming up on 7 yrs of marriage and 8 yrs together this summer.   It's gone so fast!  I excited to see what God has in store for this family in the years to come.  I am one lucky girl!

Sick coughing babies

It's been a loooong weekend.  Noah came home Friday with a temp of 101.  We took him to urgent care on Saturday morning.  He had an ear infection in one ear and drainage in the other.  His lungs are also full of gunk.  He's now on steroids and antibiotics along with breathing treatments.  YUCK!  He's been very clingy this weekend, understandably.  He hung out with mom while daddy and brother headed to church Sunday morning.  He was NOT happy about being left at home.  He's really been a trooper with all the medicines he has to take.  We thought it was getting better, but Monday morning about 2:30am he spiked a fever of 104.  Talk about a frantic mom!  We had a bath and alternated Motrin and Tylenol and finally got it down to 100.  I told Chris I never thought I'd be glad to see a 100 on the thermometer.  He seems better today with no fever.  He is just really congested and hates the breathing treatments.  Nathan is taking it all in stride.  When we went to urgent care he kept asking "Is my brother gonna be alright?"   They are both ornery but they do love each other.  Needless to say, I got about 10 hours sleep in 3 days.  It was not all together, but broken up in 1 to 2 hour segments.  I know all the moms out there know what I'm talking about.  You just keep waking up to see if they are alright.  It's not really restful.  I can report that he slept most of the night last night and I actually got a little rest.  Whew! 
Through all of this, Chris has really been great.  He's cooked and helped with medications.  He and Nathan are becoming best buds.  Nathan got to choose one person to invite to a Valentine's Day Tea at preschool.  When we asked him who he was taking, he looked at Chris and said "I'm taking you Dad...you're my best friend."  Have you ever seen someone's chest actually puff up.  He was so honored not only that he got to go to the party, but he was his son's best friend.  I think there are not many dad's that wouldn't be touched by that.  I just about teared up at the dinner table. 
My mom lives in NE Oklahoma.  They are at the center of this blizzard.  I've been sitting here watching the snow because I love it.  I'm a little worried that they are going to be buried before this is finished.  I told my family to get in and stay in.  Of course they do everything I tell them....right. :o)
I can't believe it, but our trash guys actually came today.  They are awesome!  I have a great appreciation for anyone working outside in this weather.  So to all the wonderful mailmen, police officers, and road crews, along with the santitation people, I say thanks with all my heart.  You rock!

Prayers for a family

My heart is aching today for a family I have never met.  The mom is a writer/blogger/speaker and has some wonderful insight into God's word.  I actually came across her blog through another blog I follow.  On January 12th, Joanne Heim had a stroke.  She's not an older woman nor is she chronically ill.  Her 12 year old daughter found her in a seizure in the basement.  Joanne homeschools her children.  I think that's one of the reasons this news has touched me so much.  There are many moms in our church that homeschool their children.  I cannot imagine one of them finding their mom in this manner, or what they would do if they were to lose her.  That is the case with Joanne.  Her husband is keeping posts up on her blog and twittering updates on her condition.  Today's update was not reassuring.  She has had surgery to remove part of her skull to relieve the swelling.  They may have to get even more invasive.  The swelling is not getting better, and is teetering towards worse.  Joanne's husband, Toben, has asked for prayers for a miracle.  That is apparently what the doctor's are indicating it will take.  I know God can do miracles.  I also know that it may not be His will to do so.  I am praying that God's will be done, no matter the outcome.  He knows what we need best.  I'm also praying for the children and Toben.  They will need to be lifted up even if Joanne survives.  She has had a major stroke on her left side.  Please pray with me for this family.  Thanks.

If you are interested in following Joanne's progress, her website is http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/

New Year and New Ideas

We are at home for a 2nd day enjoying the snow and playing.  The boys went sledding for the first time yesterday and we had a blast!  I can't post pictures because I was too busy dragging a sled up the hill and going down myself, but trust me....it was GREAT!  Nathan has obviously not been to school this week because of the snow so we have been working on letters, numbers and his phone number at home.  He really is a sharp kid.  I just have to make sure he can't find or reach his Leapster II that he got for Christmas.  When he's playing it, he just tunes everything else out.  Can anyone relate? 
Wanna know a secret?  I love country music.  There....I said it.  That being said, I barely listen to it anymore.  We listen to Air One and KLOVE.  I just can't let my boys go around singing the lyrics to some of those songs.  They can be obscene and it doesn't sound pretty coming out of a 4 year olds mouth.  Nathan can memorize song lyrics quickly and I don't want him repeating some of the songs from the country stations.  Chris and I have been keeping it on Christian music or putting in their Veggietales praise CD that Aunt Carolyn gave us. 
I also love Casting Crowns.  Their music is so powerful!  I watched the video "Does Anybody Her Her?" and teared up.  I wonder how often we shun people based on appearance.  I work at a pharmacy and see all kinds of people.  Sometimes I have to stop and make myself think about why that person was rude to me and what their life must be like.  Instead of growling and grumbling, I need to pray for them.  I try not to be put off by appearances but I'm only human.  This is something I am determined to work on this year.  Being a multi-tasker, I think I can pray and wait on customers at the same time.  We shall see. :o)  I would hate to think that someone showed up at our church and was made to feel unworthy.  Our people are so welcoming and they are a loving bunch.  I pray God shows us people who need to feel this and let them feel accepted into our congregation.  I'm posting the video so that you will see what I'm talking about.  It speaks to me everytime I see it.  I hope it speaks to you too! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhRucEVzH8

Finally, I am signed up to be a Women of Faith group leader.  They are reserving a group of 20 tickets for us in a prime location according to the KC representative.  I will be posting more information later.  It will be set up online for those who choose to do it that way.  You can pay for your ticket a little at a time or all at once.  I believe the cost is $89.  It sounds pricey but it is so worth it.  I went last year and got to take my sister.  It was uplifting and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Let me know if you want to go.  The dates for the KC conference are Nove 4th & 5th.  Hope to see you there!