A great date night

So Christmas is over. Family have come and gone. Presents have been dispersed. It's Saturday night and we are pooped! But this has been the greatest date night with my sweet husband that I had to post it. What did we do? Well...I didn't cook supper although my fridge was stocked full of ham and fixings and soup from a family get together. Instead we ate Wendy's hamburgers, got the kids in bed and then...we exercised to dancing with the stars! That's right! Nate and I did some latin dancing in our living room for almost an hour until our legs were wobbly and then we sat on the floor and....played the kids' playstation 2 Madagascar game. Now it's almost 11pm and I must take a shower and get ready for bed. But what a great night I had with Nate!
I'm on my way to a slim and trim dancing with the stars body - watch out! hee hee

Watch out or you'll poke your eye out...

That comment has never seemed so real to me then now! Ian was in a light saber accident with a friend (maybe foe at the time) and apparently lost b/c he walked away with a hurt eye and the other 5 year old seemed unscathed. (Sorry to make light of the situation sweet friends)! After the initial injury Nate and I took him to the ER in M'boro. We could see blood pooling in his eye. They were so fast in seeing him and quickly diagnosed it worse then I would have imagined. The nurse said the bleeding was one thing to deal with but worse then that she saw that his pupil was oblong and his vision was going in and out which meant he might have a detached retina. She ordered an ambulance and sent us to Vanderbilt. At this point I must confess I lost it. Again with Vanderbilt hospital? Can a family really have two children sent to their ER within 5 weeks? As soon as he got there the optometrist looked at his eye and saw that the pupil was back to the round shape and the blood was decreasing! We definitely call it a miracle. No detached retina...and no surgery...no blindness (all things we were warned about at M'boro). After many hours into the wee morning and three optometrist taking turns looking at Ian, who by the way was such a superstar (Elizabeth can I steal your Vandy title for a minute?) he never complained until about 2:30am when he was sound asleep and was woken up to put in yet more eye drops! So....where was I? He has a torn iris (the colored part of your eye) that has an 80% chance of healing but even if it doesn't heal it won't cause any damage to his eye. go figure??? But the kicker is...we have to keep this little spunky kid as still as possible (wait I mean his eyes as still as possible) for the next several days for the iris to try and heal. This is a critical point now to make sure his eye doesn't bleed more which could cause the retina to detach (worse case scenario). I don't know how many times we've said today "Ian keep your eyes still..." that's hilarious! I told the doctor "we'll just let him watch t.v. all day right?" And she looked very seriously at me and said "No he shouldn't do that and he shouldn't read books either. He needs to be very bored or else we could admit him to the hospital for you?" What???? But Nate and I have realized that your eyes do indeed move less watching a t.v. screen then they do watching your brother play with Lego's, people walking by, or Christmas presents under a tree! So there Mrs. Doctor!
We go back to Vandy tomorrow (Sunday) and maybe the next day too to check the bleeding and the tare. Long term??? He has a higher chance of his retina detaching if he has another trauma to his eye but really what can we do to prevent that? I praise God that he has walked away from a potential horrible accident! There is a sweet angel watching over our little ones I tell you! Parents- put away all light sabers before Christmas (we have at least 3 of them in our house) or at least say really loud when they get them out and start battleing "be careful or you might poke your eye out!"

The confessions of a bad mom...

Last full day before a two week run with both boys at home for the first time with Elizabeth! And what am I doing but keeping my oldest home because he threw up at 3am on my bathroom floor. I think I'm insane today...at first I'm of the opinion he can't go to school simply b/c he threw up in the last 24 hours; but then as the morning begins and he is feeling okay I start to rethink it. Only because he has a Christmas party this morning where he is very excited about getting a 'boy' present (why are we sending more toys to school for our children to exchange I don't understand) and he was to have cub scouts this afternoon and most importantly GO HOME WITH ELI CRAMER!!! So after a good three hours of observation and Eli's persuading me he thinks he is okay I rush to get Elizabeth ready, me suitable for the secretary (hee hee) and his lunch box packed. We get into the van, banana in eli's hand and coffee in mind and he says "I think my stomach hurts." WHAT???? I'm sitting in the driveway with garage door down and a decision to make. Instead of getting mad and losing my cool (what I might normally do) I laugh out loud and say "we are crazy aren't we Eli?" And pull the van back into the garage telling Eli to go lay down in bed. Elizabeth looked at me and gave a big smile when I plopped her back on the kitchen counter and said "home again so soon?"
I feel very bad that I even thought about sending him to school and knowing Katie (Eli Cr's mom) is reading this...even worse that I would think of sending my post throw up child to your house - how desperate am I? (background info....Nate just flew out to Washington D.C. for two days so I'm alone with everyone for the first time and for some reason a little nervous about it----get over it right?) SO...sorry to Eli for being a bad mom, sorry to Katie for almost being a bad friend and maybe getting your whole family sick, sorry to Elizabeth for totally disturbing your mobile crib time and oh yeah, sorry to Mrs. Cliche for almost sending a possibly infectious child to your classroom so he could get that toy that I didn't approve of to begin with.
I'll be okay don't ya'll worry! =)

Wow am I pittiful!

Sorry for all that self-pity I laid out there yesterday. That is embarrassing to read again.
Update on birthday Day: I learned I still weigh 20lbs over ideal pre-pregnancy weight; doctor gave me a two week 'pass' for still healing; I acted a fool all afternoon b/c I thought I wasn't getting a cake only to find out that I did indeed get two small chocolate cakes from my favorite bakery (because he didn't know which one I'd like best) ( now I can add another 5 lbs. to that weight total - but hey I think I was too skinny to begin with!); it was too rainy to go out and eat with all three kids so Nate bought me a Fat Mo's hamburger and the kids pizza; Elizabeth went to bed at 8:30 and slept until 4:45am! Oh and a sweet friend showed up at my door in the pouring rain only to have my son open the door in his whitey titties (because I thought it was Nate) while Elizabeth was screaming her head off and I was trying to corral the others to bed just to give me a funny book to cheer me up on my birthday! How awesome is that?
Life ain't that bad after all!

A more positive side of things...

It's my birthday today and I will now be positive...
1. I'm getting new carpet as an early Christmas/Birthday present from dear family (yeahhhhh)
2. I get to spend another day with Ian by myself (with Elizabeth)
3. I am more thankful for a dishwasher that works now!
4. I have had a ton of facebook friends wish me a happy birthday - that is cool!
5. I got some Merell shoes that I've been wanting from my sweet Dad!
6. My far away sweetest friend sent me a gift card to my favorite store (Hobby Lobby)
7. I have a very heathly baby girl!
8. I still have a package from my mom that I'm saving to open which makes it all the more fun!
9. There is a big tub of chicken salad from Kroger I get to have all to myself now & with crescents!
10. The day is not over and my husband may still surprise me with a cake!!!! hee hee hee

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...cry if I want to...

cry if I want to...you would cry to if it happen to you! (I used to love that song)
This is my complaining post and later I'll post a thankful one so ignore the following if you want to...
1. I'm turning 33 today and I get way too excited about my birthday thanks to my parents who made a really big deal of making me feel special on December 9th every year!
2. I know my husband won't be getting me a cake (even though I asked if I should buy my own today) b/c he is so busy with work and because he NEVER remembers to get me one.
3. I had to tell my children this morning it was my birthday in a pitiful voice something like this, "Eli..did you know today is mommy's birthday" (how sad is that folks - Sarah get a grip)
4. Ian is home sick a second day with diharia (sp), which only happens right before we leave for school and then he is fine all day!
5. My hair looks like an Afro today and I haven't had time to heat it up (fix it)
6. My dishwasher is broken so I get the pleasure of washing all my dishes throughout the day.
7. I have my 6 week OB apt. this afternoon - yes folks I get to see just how fat I still am and my 'free/pass' card is up for the old love machine! (know what I mean ladies?) Sorry Dad if you read that!
8. My sister was supposed to visit me today but b/c I have a sick kid and she has a sick kid she is staying in Nashville. I even bought some chicken salad from Kroger (and cresants) for us to eat Whitney!
9. I really can't think of two more things to complain about - sorry you had to read that!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SARAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

S.S.S.

Secret Sister Suppers - what is it? A new idea that a friend and I came up with on the phone this morning. Do you ever have a really bad day and you are telling a friend about it - well what if that friend showed up at your door in the afternoon with a meal (or maybe the next day) ready for you to serve your family. Would that not be the best gift ever! Let's start it ladies. Next time a friend of yours seems to be struggling with life why not bake two of what you are cooking or go by a restaurant and get take out and then drop it off at her house. You know she will reciprocate one day so it will be well worth your time and money! Plus how good will that make you feel? Maybe this will spread like crazy (but keep the name alive "Secret Sister Suppers")and then we could get on Oprah! Well...maybe not but at least we would all feel really good about ourselves, make better friendships, and save a family from eating mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets one more night that week! Bonn Appetite!

How rich are you?

I just read this great article about when enough is enough. It's all about the struggle each of us faces with defining enough in our life. They break it down with two definitions: if we try to define enough in terms of what others have. And if we love money. "He who loves money will never have enough." Ecclesiastes 5:10. This is a great time of year to reflect on what is enough to you. How many Christmas presents do your kids need (how much is enough for them?) Do you base your Christmas list for family on how much you spend for each of them or what they would really enjoy? (How much money is enough to equal a good present given?) I have been struggling with this question as I'm sure most people do. I even told my sister this week I didn't think I had spent enough money on the kids for Christmas and was that bad? She set me straight (thanks Whitney) and then I read this article! Enough ----- I've had enough! I either compare what other people are spending or what they have or what I don't have or or or...but enough already! My goal is to be content with what we have this Christmas season, to enjoy each present given and gotten and to relish in the moment of why we celebrate Christmas. I heard a new friend say that her family donates an equal amount of money to others that they give to their own family. I love that! So I'm being more conscious about giving this year and letting my children know why we are doing it. So, next time you think you don't have much money as your neighbor - check out the website I posted and compare your wealth to the rest of the world. Puts things in perspective!

I'm thankful today for

For...random people who bring me supper & they aren't even close friends of mine but do it to be nice and helpful. (especially last night when I was holding a crying baby, my two boys were wrestling in the house very loudly and my husband was at a meeting at 6pm and wouldn't be home till around 8:00) -thank you Sheryl!
For...Elizabeth who held up her head today and looked around the living room as to say "so this is where I live." And who also slept in her crib last night and did really good!
For...the fact that I washed so many clothes the past two days I am taking a break today!
For...a great morning that started before 6am but every child in this house cooperated so I could take both boys to school and get home by 8am with only a little crying from Elizabeth in the van when we slowed down in line to drop Ian off second - THANK YOU NATE FOR MAKING ME COFFEE BEFORE YOU LEFT FOR YOUR MEETING AT 6:30 AND FOR FIXING THE BOYS BREAKFAST! God I love that man!

Now I understand...

What's the saying...it doesn't hurt till it hits home? I totally made that up I think but you get where I'm going with this?
I've been known to say in the past, "I don't understand what the big deal is with the 'economy' problems and people saying they don't have as much money these days and the news going on and on about how desperate times are for our country...blah blah blah" I would say in my udder ignorance. But now!!!!! Let me preface this by saying MY HUSBAND HAS NOT LOST HIS JOB. Now let me say...Nate comes home from a faculty senate meeting last night where all they talked about was these budget cuts the governor is enforcing on the colleges/universities in TN. in order to meet the budget this year. I'm talking millions of dollars of budget cuts just at MTSU alone and they already made cuts for this year but now they have to do it again. What does that mean? Well it means that professors are going to lose their jobs. They are even voting to allow the president Dr. McPhee the right to let go of tenured professors if needed.
Is my husband freaking out? No...at least not to my face. He truly believes that whatever happens God will guide us and take care of us - I'm holding strong to that verse (don't know it exactly) that goes "don't put your trust in man but in God alone." Where is that?
So his attitude is definitely helping me but still! I wanted to cry this morning just thinking about it. Going back to my stupid statement about the economy now...It seems very real to me this week. I heard on the radio where a big tire factory in Rutherford County is letting go of 150 employees 4 days before Christmas. It's everywhere -
At least for Nate's job - the budget cuts there are to help the state since they are so much in the deficit. Which leads me to yell out "why do we have to lose our jobs to 'bail' out the government in TN. when they didn't budget well enough all year? Or am I sadly mistaken concerning how we got in this predicament? (which can be the case!) It's just like the national government - if every family in America is responsible for budgeting their own income and making ends meet each month and paying their bills (and trying to stay out of credit crisis) then why can't our elected officials do the same for our country's budget? When it trickles down and so many people lose their job because of this problem it really makes you ask WHAT IS GOING ON????
Let me end by saying I really try to not talk about politics b/c I most often don't know what I'm talking about - so forgive me if I have said something stupid or that doesn't make sense (but this is my blog isn't it?)

What am I thankful for today?

Well I had good intentions with my little "oh, I'm going to write something I'm thankful for each day..." idea. So here's a few for the sum of the past few days....
1. I'm thankful that even when Thanksgiving Day turns out completely wrong it doesn't cease being a national holiday & you can try again next year!
2. I'm thankful that my husband doesn't mind cooking everything I volunteered to make for Thanksgiving because I'm so out of it from lack of 8 hours continual sleep!
3. I'm thankful for a good love movie that makes you want to go home and romantically kiss your husband like you did the very first time! (Go see "Australia" with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman)
4. I'm thankful for breast pumps & the fact that my baby will take a bottle when momma wants a date with daddy!

Facebook...It's addicting!

Ok...It's 9:43pm on Saturday evening and for some reason (maybe the Mexican hot chocolate my mother got me hooked on - buy it at World Market) I'm trying to dust my living room but instead I've gotten sucked into Face book! Who here 'does' face book? I mean that thing is crazy! My high school girlfriends have started posting old pictures they are finding in their attics of all of us when we looked like Pretty Woman want-a-be's! (before she got all sophisticated) Now they are posting those 'remember when' stories we all want to forget ON THE INTERNET ----- I'm getting a little embarrassed! I have threatened them... But anyway that Face book is really addictive (did I say that already?). It's crazy how many 'friends' you can keep up with now. It's funny when you get a friend request from someone and you think 'do I know that person?' and it ends up being someone that you happened to be in high school with, who was in another grade, and you never even talked to them but here they are requesting you be their friend. Do you turn down their request and give them a complex (or reinforce the thought they already had about you that you are too good to be their friend from the 1990's or do you say YES! I want to be your friend even though I don't even know you!) Oh, the pressures of Face book!

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Just recieved this devotion today and loved it ----I'm going to start blogging once a day (ha ha ha) on something positive that I'm grateful for! Let's see if it works!

The researchers found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, more satisfaction with life, and more vitality and optimism. All good qualities I want more of in my life. They also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress - two things I’d like to experience less in my life.

What’s more, they found that people who keep journals about gratitude on a weekly basis are healthier. They exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events. That sounds great, and I’ll take all the help I can get in the exercise department.

Finally, the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, and energy. Wow, the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! I guess that shouldn’t surprise me after considering today’s key verse. The Bible urges us to give thanks … all the time … in every situation … because this practice is the will of God.

Let me be clear, there are terrible things that happen to us that may not be the will of God, but us praising God and giving thanks in spite of them certainly is the will of God. As Christians, we can always find reason to give thanks – thanks for the salvation of Christ, the nearness of God, and the counsel of His Spirit for starters. The psalmist declared, “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (Psalm 7:17, NIV). We can do that too.

Christian poet John Milton once wrote about every grey cloud having a silver lining. Purposing to give thanks, no matter the weather, will train us to look for it. Continuing in this manner day after day ensures that gratefulness will become our normal mode of operation.

No wonder those researchers found that people regularly counting their blessings grow happier, healthier, and more optimistic. After all, that research wasn’t discovering anything new, but rather confirming the will and wisdom of God. God already knows how great it is for us to be grateful. Now “science” does too.

What can you give thanks for today?

Looking back....

I've sat and thought about what I would write for this first post back from the hospital and honestly I have written out many a thing in my brain but never had the time or felt too pressured to write this great thought provoking essay that I didn't do it! But now I must face the blank white screen and overcome my fear of what to write (sound like college?).

Obviously we are back - one week exactly- from Vanderbilt and Elizabeth is doing great considering someone cut her open and sewed on her heart two weeks ago! I don't know if its me not facing the reality of what happened or what??? but I don't think much about that week when I look at her. Everyone that I see for the first time or talk to says to me "I couldn't have done it....how did you make it?" Well I think how could I not make it? How could I not have done it? It was my two week old baby that went through it and she didn't even cry that much so how could I not be strong while sitting beside her with those breathing tubes and chest tubes in her? How could I not stand their strong while they poked her too many times to count to try and get i.v.'s in her little veins even having to go through her leg bones once b/c her veins were too tiny. My sweet baby girl was the strongest person I've ever seen - not complaining about the pain once! Her precious little lung collapsed and she didn't even let us know but just kept on breathing and sleeping - she got an infection in her incision when it popped open and she didn't even cry when we would pick her up to hold her and nurse! I'm in awe when I look at that precious baby and know that she is going to be a strong woman in this world!

Wow...this is therapeutic! We had so many people praying for us I have heard - e-mails were forwarded on and on to churches and groups through family and friends. Baby Elizabeth's name was lifted up to our Heavenly Father throughout this ordeal by people who hadn't even met her. And you know what? I FELT IT. I've never, never had that many people praying for my family for something. We've never been through anything that warranted petitions in that manner. But I can honestly tell you that Nate and I felt like we were being held up physically, mentally and spiritually by God b/c of it. With soooo little sleep and countless doctors coming in spitting off terms about our baby that we needed to remember and people calling and visiting all the time where we felt like we needed to be 'at our best' for them since they took time to come see us - it was exhausting but yet we made it each day. The doctor's said many times how remarkable Elizabeth was doing considering what she had been through - how fast she was recovering - how "she doesn't look like a 'heart' baby" said one doctor! You can't tell me that wasn't God's hand on us!
Are we going to be overprotective parents now? Probably so---Elizabeth has been throwing up the past three days just once each night and of course we freaked out and called the cardiologist. And then her incision opened up on the other side this time and we called the on call surgeon Saturday. She seems fine but we are very hypersensitive now.
The one major thing I learned from this all is BE PREPARED if you have children --- (that's the boy scout motto in case you didn't know). Prepared for what? Prepared in all sense of the word - have a support system set up already that you can rely on to step in and pick up your world where you can't be there to keep it running. Know what to do if your child has an emergency....for us when Elizabeth choked for the first time both Nate and I freaked out and didn't' know what to do. Nate called 911 and I ran across the street to my neighbor who is a nurse for him to help her. What was I thinking? Do you know how to resuscitate your child if they quit breathing or choke - it kills me to think of all the times my kids could have done this and I wouldn't have known what to do even though I took CPR in college (it wasn't refreshed in my mind!). The hospital made Nate and I watch a video and show the nurse how to do CPR on a child/baby before we could leave. Thank God! If anything - go learn the few basic steps for that right now! And the last thing that can prepare someone in case they go through any kind of family crisis - have faith in Christ. Nate and I knew from the beginning that whatever happened we were going to make it b/c of our faith in Christ. We had HOPE that He would pull us through it....now don't think I didn't want to curl up and scream in pain from fear of not knowing what was wrong with her in the ER Sunday night at Vanderbilt but I prayed and I knew when I couldn't pray I could moan in fear and sadness and my Father would hear me and give me the strength. I can't imagine families going through a crisis like that and not being grounded in faith.

I doubt anyone has read all this rambling - but it was good for me to get out of my head and now I can carry on with my blogging like before! Much thankfulness and love goes out to my friends and family for 'stepping in' where I couldn't be and carrying my family through the past two weeks!

My house is quiet

My first morning without anyone here although my sister should arrive shortly to visit and hold the baby while I rest or maybe shower (oh, who am I kidding...you know I really want to go to Kohl's and shop at their big sale today!)...

I'm doing good - nights aren't too bad. My body seems to have adjusted to waking up for periods of time and listening to little noises, differentiating between choking, spit up, hiccups, gas, big poops, or restful quiet! (I like the last one - no noise!)

It's definitely so different this third time around I really can't believe it. I'm actually trying to relish every moment of this b/c I 'know' it will be my last go around at it. It's kind of like when I had Eli in Alabama...just a lot of free time in the day (while the kids are at school) to hold and sleep her and stare at her. Of course when the boys come home there is a lot of juggling but they are so patient with me and very self-sufficient, playing together and able to get themselves ready with my coaching from the living room if need be. I realize how they emotionally need me more then anything to be engaged with them and not staring at Elizabeth at times. More Eli then Ian it seems lately. He just wants to know I'm still there for "him" I think.

Funny story to end...Eli comes home from school Monday and says "Mrs. Cliche wants to know how long we can play together this week." My heart stops and I feel a little sick. I even look up at my mom to see if she heard the same thing and she looks at me really weird so I know I'm not having a delusion. Here's what I heard inside my head...."I've been telling Mrs. Cliche how you ignore me because of the baby and she wants me to try and get you to play with me alone this week without that baby distracting you from your first born wonderful son who feels neglected!" I really don't know what to say b/c Eli doesn't' seem bothered by his comment. So ---later that night I'm giving the boys a bath (without baby - just me and them time) and I look at Eli and say "So, Eli...when you told me Mrs. Cliche wants us to play together this week what do you mean?" He said "wasn't it in my notes from her?" OH MY GOODNESS.... "No, I didn't see anything about us playing together." He said "there wasn't a bag with directions on it and some dice?" OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! "You mean that math homework...we are supposed to play that together this week?" Eli - "Yes, we have to play that as much as we can this week for my homework."

Good gracious I think - well, at least I know he hasn't gone to the school counselor yet!

Elizabeth Rose is here

Wow...it only took a week to post - but this will be quick.
We are doing great - tired and adjusting to life with three kids and their different (some more grown up then others) needs this time around. Elizabeth is so patient, sleeps all time time, and lets the boys toss her around when they want. Both boys are so gentle and loving towards her - very full of questions about how she eats, why she does this...etc.
She had a weigh in today and she's gained 4 oz. past her leave hospital weight which is awesume for breastfed babies. Don't have to go back for 2 more months! I'm relearning this whole baby thing since it's only been 5 years since I've had one!!! Enjoy pictures -

b.b's and bow & arrows

It came to pass...little Eli got to shoot his first gun and bring home the target to prove it to momma! Since sister girl didn't arrive, Nate took Eli (and Ian along for the ride) to the Cub Scout 'campout' (they didn't camp out) on Saturday. It all came true...what that uniform clothed stranger promised in Eli's school cafeteria...the boys got to shoot all kinds of stuff and fish and get really dirty! Needless to say he has requested to please have the uniform now; I had been putting that purchase off to see how his interest would hold up. I'm happy for him but more so that Nate really connected with the 'scouts' idea for the first time and saw many many fathers and sons bonding on Saturday. I guess that is just one of many good things about having boys (you get a little free time when the Dad's have to serve male duty on such activities). But hey, I'm all up for a little spa and shopping time with baby Elizabeth in about 5 years! =)

Due Date has arrived

Saturday, October 25th. I've been talking about this "date" for really 10 months now. I wake up this morning and it has arrived but nothing else has arrived...I just read on line that "Remember only 5% of mothers give birth on their due date." What? They didn't take that poll in Murfreesboro. It seems everyone around me had their baby before their due date. But after? I'm complaining - sorry.
Nate just left with his buddy to take all 4 rambunctious boys of ours (including theirs) to a cub scout camp out today. I had so wanted Eli to get to 'shoot bows and arrows, shoot b.b. guns, go fishing, etc.' after he signed up for cub scouts and it looks like he gets to do it. Of course in my usual worrying fashion I'm already nervous that I'll go into labor any minute today and the men will have to drag all 4 boys from the fields of boyhood, dropping their miniature weapons and hard caught fish to drive back to M'boro and take old mommy to the hospital. Maybe the excitement of a new baby really coming will distract the bad memories from settling in their subconscious and reappearing when they sit in front of their shrinks at age 30 and blame everything else on me. (hee hee) Did I mention we don't know how well the cell phone reception is out there? Oh, just more to add to my worries. STOP IT SARAH!
I jokingly tell friends that I will be able to french braid sister girl's hair when she comes out and that we can just put her in her crib and say "see you in the morning" because she will be so big and cooked! I know I'm crazy.
I think I will go paint - the one thing that keeps my mind off me and passes the time...

Happy Birthday Nate

Today is my husband's birthday and you know what he wanted? A baby girl - of course it is only 9:30am so he might get his wish. That is the difference between me and him, the last thing I would want on my birthday is for one of my children to be born - selfish, selfish, selfish! =)

I just wanted to blog about him even though he never reads this. Nate and I have known each other since first grade. He remembers his mom dropping him off at school and saying "You better be nice to that little Sarah Weeks she's a cutie" (or something like that) and I think he responded with probably throwing up noises. But we did grow up as acquaintances and in high school (all 400 students) we hung out together a lot. He took me to the Jr. prom even though we didn't dance at all together (we did manage to get a picture taken beside each other). He was EXTREMELY shy with girls but THE CLASS CLOWN. After graduation we life guarded together and became best friends the summer of our Sophomore year in college, when we were both stuck back in West TN. for two months. I knew then that I wanted to marry him and be his best friend forever! (please put away the wine...)

We've grown up together literally in our marriage, getting married at ages 22 and 21 right out of college...struggling with new jobs, graduate school (and still graduate school), starting a family young and realizing what our priorities in life were - dedicating our lives to Christ and getting involved in a local church, making sweet friendships that still mean a lot to our marriage today. Nate is the most dedicated family man I know. He puts me and the kids before himself most days. He is dedicated to not only teaching his students at MTSU but mentoring them and praying for them when needed. He stands out in a crowd to me because he is tenderhearted (doesn't mind crying when moved) and can always lighten the mood in a room. He is known for hugging everyone (male or female) and for getting children in his presence either crazy hyper from being wrestled to the ground, thrown in the air or accidentally hurt (he doesn't realize his strength sometimes...) Happy Birthday Nate - best friend, soul mate and partner in my life!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere...

I love Fall! I love the orange colors and the decorations I put up in my house (fall leaves, etc.), carving pumpkins and pulling out jackets and blue jeans. Enjoy the Fall pictures - please note the pumpkin I'm hiding in my shirt (hee hee).

Soccer Season comes to an end

After a few months of Monday and Tuesday 6:00 practices for Eli and Ian and then Saturday morning games we have come to a halt in our busy schedule. Eli improved his skills a lot this season; for the first time Nate didn't coach his team but opted to help with Ian's team. Eli's coaches were both soccer coaches at local schools so the experience from them really pushed Eli to learn some new stuff. Although he is timid he really is built for the running, twisting and maneuvering of the soccer ball. Ian played for his second season and surprised Nate and I both by his disinterest in the sport after last season's go get 'em attitude. He never wanted to go to practice or play the game on Saturday but once out there he did fine most of the time. He seemed to thrive being goalie - I don't know why but the constant action when the ball was coming at him energized the little fellow (he hardly let them get by...it was hilarious to watch). He managed to score a few as well - usually when grandparents were at the game to watch. But he did tell us he didn't want to play next time. I can respect that so we'll see what interest this little one comes up with. I think Eli will always enjoy playing soccer as long as he has a buddy on his team (that is the most important thing to him always with anything!!!) I have to praise the One Goal Sports ministry that set up these soccer teams. They are Christ centered and all practices and games begin with prayer along with a weekly bible verse the kids memorize. The focus is on good character during the game and not the score so children don't feel bad when they lose. Of course when you get into Eli's age group they KNOW who won or lost but at least the parents are out there yelling about it. The end of the season everyone gets a trophy and all the parents come together with their kids for a devotion and prayer. It makes me smile/get choked up to see our kids having fun, using their bodies and learning a new sport while remembering the most important thing in Life - Jesus. Here are a few pictures from the sharks and bulldog's season...

Can I just say...

I choose to shop at Kroger first because I can put money towards Eli's school account to pay for future field trips and second because it is not Wal-mart in that the service is more personal, which I note you pay for. But saying that I have noticed that at my Kroger they are slacking on the whole "Can I help you bring your groceries to your car" thing. I used to say no because I was actually then an in shape young woman but now that I'm NINE months pregnant could someone please ask me to help take out the buggy full of groceries. I remember being sensitive about this when I had a baby in the buggy and a toddler hanging on me....HELLO was I not screaming inside "help me with these groceries please". So anyway, today what happens? I'm trying not to deliver in the store after walking up and down aisles 4 times b/c I'm so scattered and over an hour has passed (yes I didn't even have little ones with me...) and what happens? I have to bag my own groceries b/c no one will help the poor cashier out! But this is the flip side that I have to share....while I'm bagging all my groceries this very tall gentlemen behind me in line comes over and starts bagging them with me and the cashier! I was so tickled. And it doesn't stop there - so I start walking out my own huge cart of groceries (pickles were on the top in case all that work made my water break...) and I get out to my van while it starts to sprinkle. I start throwing the thousand bags in the van when who should appear but that same man. (Just so you know he wasn't hitting on the old Humpty Dumpty mom but has two boys of his own at home)...and he said, "Let me help you!" So he put my groceries in the van, handed me my purse and took my buggy to put up. I almost cried as I told him how sweet he was! Then I thanked God for little blessings! It's nice to know there are kind strangers still out there!!!
And Kroger???? I'm still a little ticked over that whole absence of hospitality! But they are better then Wal-mart! Just so you know...it's 10am and I got my groceries in the house, sat down at the computer and no contractions. I'm doing good - only 14 hours left before I can go into labor (when Nate gets home). =)

A day on hold baby girl

Ok...as of 7am Thursday morning (tomorrow) sister girl CAN NOT come for a good 18 hours!!! Nate is flying to Colorado in the morning for a whirlwind trip - get this...he flies out at 10am to speak at a conference for 10-15 mts at 4:00pm (talking about an article he wrote for an aerospace magazine thingy) then runs to catch the bus at 5pm back to the airport for his flight at 8pm and should get home around midnight. Bless his heart he was supposed to go from Wed-Fri. but b/c we are so close to my due date he opted for the all day travel. Crazy thing though...today I have felt worse then any day yet (tired, back ache, just plain feel funny). I'm totally downplaying it b/c I"m sure it will be nothing and I don't want to freak sweet husband out. I just keep saying it will make a good story if he is traveling to get back when I go in labor (or as one friend, maybe my sister?, said - you will always have that to hang over his head!) - Oh, I wouldn't be that mean...would I? So, please say a prayer that Elizabeth won't decide to come of all days on the one day that her daddy is not in the state! Did anyone notice the full moon - second night of it tonight. =)

Do I look like a freak of nature?

Why is it that there a babies being born all the time but yet I don't see very pregnant women waddeling around all the time? I think it is because they are all hiding at home, which is what I want to do at this point until "sister girl" arrives! You know you are too big when 1. your maternity clothes no longer fit over your belly and 2. When everywhere you go in public people litteraly stop in their tracks, throw all manners aside and stare at your midsection until you give them a dirty look! I have succumbed to waddeling, needing help when getting up from a horizontal position, bumping into strangers b/c I didn't estimate correctly how much my belly was sticking out when passing someone, but yet continue to smile when strange women tell me to my face "Oh, honey you look pitiful!" TWO weeks until my due date and the doctors think it's funny to remind me my other two babies didn't arrive until 40 weeks! So if you see me please, please don't look at me with that "look" and say "Oh Sarah" in that "way"...just wait until I waddle past you and then quietly mutter to yourself "Bless her heart"! I need it! =)

Realizations over Fall Break

What have I realized after spending a week at home with my boys after getting use to them being at school each day????
1. I love not having to get ready at 6:30am each morning and threaten Ian to eat faster and then go poop before we get in the van!
2. When forced to come up with something to play together Eli and Ian CAN play together and use their imagination!
3. I love reading chapter books to the boys on the couch with them curled up on me!
4. We ate at McDonald's 3 times this week for lunch - GROSS!!!
5. Bounce U totally rocks and Thank God "Steve's Fun Zone" is no longer here!
6. It is okay to make the boys do somewhat grown up things where they have to be patient and quiet b/c they will hopefully learn some "culture" in the long run (i.e. wait in line forever to see the Declaration of Independence in Nashville, listen to my mom speak about her newly published book at the Southern Book Festival -hey, they had country music playing live too, and now that Ian's 5 years old - sit in church each Sunday and be respectful!)
7. I really got used to my own quiet time while they were gone - thank you PaPa (Nate's Dad) for taking them for a day to let me rest and paint!
8. The most commonly used phrase from Ian is "I'm not playing with you anymore" and from Eli "IANNNNNNN STOOOOPPPPPP!" in the most whining tone you can imagine!
9. Both boys have the ability to memorize things so easily it literally blows my mind!
10. Christmas break is in 10 weeks.....and I get to do this all over again for 3 weeks is it? and with a maybe 8 week old baby! Yeah me!!!!

My future hotel stay

We took the boys with us last night and got a hospital tour for the upcoming delivery of "sister girl" (as one of my friends called her today). I love that - how Southern! We walked around with a group of very new looking mom and dad's. Eli and Ian became the focal point of the tour guide as she asked them many questions about being a big brother, etc. Nate and I felt like old pros.'s among these newbie parents. Amongst their many blank stares and terrified glances Nate and I are were chuckling and making jokes remembering our shared stories of past deliveries - some good and some bad. Like the fact that both deliveries we have been sent home during the "laboring" because baby wasn't quite ready to come (maybe we'll get it right this time around). And that Nate always complains so much about how they treat husbands in the hospital by making them sleep on those fold out beds where his legs hang off, or better yet at one hospital he 'got' to sleep on the couch! He suggested this time that we cuddle together on my bed! I think not! This hospital allows the mom to custom order her meals or "just call room service and order some ice cream if she needs it", Nate got a kick out of that one! Then they told about a new massage person who comes to each mom's room and gives 15 mts. of free massages after the delivery. I just leaned back and smiled - oh yeah! I'm ready for this hotel stay! Nate is known for drive by deliveries as we have come to call it...you know, check in when labor starts, deliver baby then check out the next day as soon as baby passes all tests. Yes, that is what we did with the second one - why? Because my wonderful husband convinced me we would get more sleep at home in our bed then that hospital room where the nurses kept waking us up and the beds (I mean his bed) was horrible. I realized quickly after leaving the comforts of my nurses care around 11pm that night, returning home with new baby Ian and waking up to 2 year old Eli the next morning around 6:30am that I was on my own! So now, 5 years later - more mature and wise - I told my baby's daddy that I was kicking it in that hospital/hotel until they kicked me out! He could even go home if he wanted =)
Am I ready? Well, my mom came yesterday and helped me wash all the baby's clothes, put the crib's sheets on, moved stuff around - buy some more stuff at Target, put up one more picture...so yes, I'm ready now. About 3 weeks to go till we see you "Sister Girl!"

Fireproof My Marriage!

Nate and I went and saw such a good movie last..."Fireproof" - it stars Kirk Cameron (remember Growing Pains in the 80's/90's) and was made by the same people who made "Facing the Giants". The house was packed and not a dry eye from man or woman was in there when the movie ended. It is all about a husband and wife who have reached the point where they feel they have to get a divorce - no other options to work through it. The husband's father asks him to try one more thing if he thinks there is 'anything' left saving in the marriage and the young man agrees to do it. For 40 days he reads this journal his dad gave him with one task to do each day for his wife, though he can't tell her why he is doing it. It's all about the reason everyone should fight to save their marriage b/c it isn't just a 'contract' we enter until things get too tough and then we pull out but rather it is a 'commitment' we make to each other for better and worse till death do us part (wasn't that any everyone's vows?). Even if your marriage isn't rocky we all have those selfish moments where we think the other spouse could do more for us, doesn't appreciate us, or maybe even worse is more committed to something else in their life now then our relationship; this is a movie everyone - young and old- should go see with their spouse and then talk about. With the divorce rate so high and so many of us with little children depending on us to make it for their sake I hope lots of people will see this movie and recommit to putting their spouse and their marriages first in their life! www.fireproofmymarriage.com

It was your face mom...says Eli

Eli (my 7 year old) and I have this ongoing struggle over lying. I don't know when it started but it rears its ugly head about once or twice a month. It goes something like this every time...
Example from tonight taking a shower...
Me: Eli, did you wash everything?
Eli: Yes
Me: Did you wash your (and I start naming everything until I get to armpits)
Eli: Yes (then he looks funny)
Me: Did you really wash your armpits?
Eli: Yes - (but now he's making that guilty face again that he does every time we get sucked into the is "is he lying" fight.
But then he says "no" - so I say "well wash your armpits" but then I think as any good mother would who realizes she needs to spend the extra energy she does not have at 8pm while bathing her children to make a teachable point..."Eli, you just lied to me didn't you?"
Let me point out that I admit I am a little sensitive about lying b/c I struggled with this as a child! I did it often growing up - usually at a younger age I ended up confessing to my mother but as I got older I really struggled with those little lies that don't hurt anyone but keep you from getting into heaps of trouble. So, I don't want Eli to fall into that trap.
Back to the bathroom...
As the story usually plays out....I realize he lied, tell him he will get a punishment for it, then he starts crying hysterically and changes his story yelling "You don't ever believe me..I'm not lying - why don't you believe me?" Then I go crazy in my head b/c 'didn't he just admit he was lying?' So, am I hearing things - is he confused - am I confused - God help us we are all confused now!
BUT THIS IS THE BEST PART....this time he looks at me and says "IT WAS YOUR FACE!" (I think meaning my face (or the look I was giving him) made him start cracking up so he looked guilty) but the thing is he just kept saying "IT WAS YOUR FACE THAT MADE ME DO IT - YOUR FACE!" Then Ian gets out of the shower and looks at me and says "Mom...I think you are beautiful!" Oh, the life of a mother - no, I didn't end up punishing Eli b/c he was so hysterical after the shower and we were both so confused as to if he really had washed his armpits that I was too exhausted to even think about it again! Lesson lost? At least I know that my face now has power to make others do things they regret! oh my...

The things you hear in the minivan after school

I think counselors should start meeting with their patients in a minivan on their way home from work or school, etc. That seems to be a nonthreatening place where one can just let loose from the day and not have to look the 'listener' in the eye, while they just let it all out! Oh, thank goodness our little ones can't see our eyes as we tear up and take in all their hurts and pains and try to offer up advice and comfort while we watch out for the crazies on the road! So what was my counseling session about today you wonder....
Patient: Ian - 5 years old
Doctor's notes: Patient seemed very sad and quiet, complaining his stomach hurt and seemed to be fighting back tears.
Doctor's Question: "Ian, did something happen today that made you sad?"
Patient: "Yes, someone was mean to me."
Doctor: "Please continue..."
Patient: (paraphrased by doctor) "There is this really big boy, bigger then anyone, who is very mean and he wouldn't play with me. I was sitting by Luke (patient's friend) on the playground and this mean boy told me to get up and he didn't say please. Then there wasn't anywhere for me to sit and I had no one to play with. And that same mean boy pushed a girl and didn't say he was sorry."
Doctor: Wow! He seems really mean. You don't really want to play someone that mean do you?
Patient: No.
Doctor: So let's think of all the nice kids you like that play with you.

And so we talked about the nice kids. I'm being silly here but really Ian was so upset over this mean boy. He seems to be very effected by mean kids at school. Luckily this 'big kid' isn't in his room I found out - all playground socializing. All I can do is literaly pray each day for him that he won't get hurt, emotionally and physically, by all these different personalities at school and try to encourage and kiss the emotional boo boo's that do occur. Don't all us mommies wish we could shelter our little ones from the pains of growing up and 'the mean big kids who don't say please and their sorry!' Bless their hearts!!! I guess it is good practice for real life b/c don't we all know those same mean kids just grow up to be bigger and sometimes meaner!

why didn't anyone correct me?

Ok...so I didn't pay too much attention to my baby momma friend seeing how I said she had 6 legs instead of 8! Hello? What grade did we learn about spiders? Oh....and now she actually has 7 legs b/c she broke one off! Poor baby momma buddy!

Am I an overprotective emotional basketcase or what?

I guess this is why I have a blog; so, I can write needless thoughts to myself (and allow others to read them if they are bored) and hope I feel better in the long run. I'm about to do just that...
I just dropped Ian off at school and embarrassingly 1. told the secretary her rules were ridiculous 2. cried in front of the principal 3. boo hood all the way out to my car 4. just now gained composure (20mts. after leaving Ian). BUT I DIDN'T CRY IN FRONT OF IAN!!!
Why you wonder? B/C Ian has had some weird virus for the past 4 days - missed two days of school last week - keeps breaking out in an itchy rash, which I was told wasn't contagious, and then last night got knocked over so he has a huge goose egg on his forehead and had been asleep since 6pm till this morning. So, I told him I would walk down to his room and explain all that to his Pre-K teacher since she has NO PHONE NUMBER OR E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER! I go sign in the office like all the other parents I see that do this and ask for a hall pass and they tell me I can't go to his room anymore! What???? I said I wasn't "just walking him to his room but needed to talk to his teacher b/c he had been absent and sick for awhile." The SECRETARY looked at me and said "it is school policy you can't go to his room and bother the teacher you'll have to e-mail her or send a note!" I then (pregnant and very emotional) looked at her and said "that is the most ridiculous rule...she has no email or way of contacting her before this morning." SORRY CRAZY PREGNANT WOMAN ---- she was thinking I know! So she handed me a piece of paper and ignored me from there.
I sat in the office trying so hard not to cry in front of Ian - he was a big boy though - he didn't get upset and took my pitiful note and walked down the hall to class. I sat and watched him like I promised and then HE comes up -the principal! I mustered up the confidence and looked at him explaining my dismay that I couldn't even talk to Ian's teacher when he had been out sick and she had called me but left no contact number last week. He went on to tell me how it was to "PROTECT THE CHILDREN FROM GETTING HURT IF THE TEACHER WAS IGNORING THEM TO TALK TO ME." I responded that there was a teacher's ass. in her room every morning! He ignored that fact and said "your son will be OK. You can schedule a meeting with her during her planning period later today." (Like I'm some emotional pregnant woman or something). So, I started crying and walked away from him out the door of that horrible lock down school that is trying to protect our kids from their parents! All this concern simply b/c I don't' think Ian will tell anyone if he feels sick again - he didn't last week and when I picked him up he threw up at home and slept all afternoon - I did go over and over with him to tell the teacher if he felt sick this time. Why does he seem so much smaller then Eli when he started school? God help me this year! P.S. NOT ALL SCHOOLS ARE LIKE THIS - I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE OF MY OTHER CHILD!!!!!

6 weeks to go

I've thought a lot lately about the fact that I never blog concerning my pregnancy. I was starting to feel guilty after I wrote more about my 6 legged baby momma friend then my own pregnancy so I thought I'd just write an update for any far away friends who read this (but am I really kidding myself with that one?)
I'm within a few hours, technically, of being 6 weeks till due date - October 25th. We're told this precious baby is a girl inside me so after much concern of 1. deciding whether we needed to keep the long E sound in our children's name (although Ian does start with I -weird Irish) and 2. they all have 3 letter names for some reason - not planned promise- we picked the longest name possible that does start with long E - Elizabeth. To explain why...it is my middle name so I felt a certain connection to it and (don't laugh) but all growing up I always played with a beautiful baby doll whom I named Elizabeth. As well as the fact that on my dad's side the name Elizabeth seems to be in most women's names??? And now the weird news; Nate and I are very adamant about calling her Elizabeth as opposed to Ellie, Liz, Lizzy, whatever else you can dream up - and we have already threatened one set of grandparents that they wouldn't get to see her if they tried to sneak in a nickname! We're serious folks! =)
Middle name? Rose...this after my Granny Rose who meant so much to me growing up - and I do know that as the many Stanley women on my mother's side (all of her sisters) and also my sister and I have received her genes and along with them a bit of her stubbornness, go get it done - don't mess with me - I told you so - at the same time caring and loving attitude (she called me her little sunshine growing up and let me drink coffee & watch her soap operas after school before mom picked me up at her house) how could I pass up that name and the legacy it holds!
After telling so many that I wouldn't fall into the pink trap of having a girl I fell in face first - pink clothes (not my fault they are mostly hand-me-downs), very girly but tastefully so pink and green rose bedding, and yes - A PINK ROOM! But...it is the lightest pink you can purchase and my husband (though a bit color blind) has a hard time telling it is not white!
So, to save you those horrible pictures of pregnant women in their last days of torture where they look like they are delivering a 1st grader (my friend told me to tell people that about myself - thanks a lot Katie!) I'll not post a picture of myself - you can just imagine!!!! But I will post my two sweet boys painting the room pink! Did I mention they ARE SO THRILLED about having a baby girl in the house? And by the way...I think I'm delivering a 1st grader!

6 legged baby momma friend

I have a companion & inspirational buddy in my last trimester - a beautiful, at one time big bootied, delicate (as my husband often times call me - usually after I get hurt from his "rough housing" with me) and hard working one at that! Who is she? My back yard spider friend. Please admire her pictures and her work of art - another thing we have in common. I'm deligently painting my friend's canvases (thank you thank you thank you for asking me) at the kitchen table and there she is weaving her masterful spider webs right outside my kitchen window so we can all admire her work.
One day the boys in the house (all three of them) kept commenting on my friend's growing backside and they all thought it made for great comic relief. I on the other hand, having compassion and feeling some draw to this female friend, wondered out loud if she was carring babies! Day after day at the supper table the males around here again laughed at that beautiful big booty...while I'm internalizing (don't all women do this?)how big my booty is getting with this pregnancy! It's starting to really get to me - so I chastise them for speaking so rudely behind our backyard guest's back (while I ask for seconds on the mashed potatoes).
Sure enough, we wake up one morning and while eating breakfast at the table we check on the status of our spider and realize her booty is missing! I'm jealous now!!!
And there it is....her first egg sack attached to our window. Now I'm really jealous! Why can't I let my baby grow in a sack hooked securely to the wall so I can get busy on other things while she grows safely in my home? And her figure? It was back to her slim self again. AUGHHHH! Despite all this I still feel drawn to my 6 legged baby momma friend and know that I really do have it made; although, I won't lose my big booty the minute this baby comes out I also won't have to start all over growing more babies and laying more egg sacks (her booty will get big many times before winter) and then just die hoping nature won't be too harsh on my babies as they grow in their sacks until Spring. Oh, the stretch marks she must have hidden down there!

Bows & Arrows, B.B. guns anyone?

It happened...I've been waiting 7 years for this one day. I pick up my son from school and the first thing out of his mouth as he buckles up is "Mom, I have to come back to school tonight at 6pm to be a cub scout so I can shoot bows and arrows, b.b. guns and go camping this weekend - but we'll be back for school, ok?"
I just start cracking up and finally am able to say "Did someone come talk to you today dressed in a boy scout uniform and tell you all that?" He said, "Yes! A man with a really big belly!"
OH YEAH....THAT'S THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR YOU! How do I know - because I was once one of them! That's right folks - stop laughing - I graduated from my all women's college (think small, liberal arts - communication's degree) and was desperate to pay the bills for myself and my new husband (who was still in undergraduate school at MTSU) and I landed a job with the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. Might I add, I was the first woman District Executive for Rutherford County - thank you very much! Of course I wasn't the first woman to ever work for the boy scouts in case you are wondering that too - and I'm sorry if that offends any of you but I was 21 years old and it was a darn good job for someone wanting to get into the nonprofit field!
One of my responsibilities (I still have nightmares about this part) was wearing a boy scout uniform - yes, those green shorts that came to your knees and tall green socks and hiking boots (that part was ok) and that button shirt with those patches on it (I wore a jacket even in 100 degree weather if I ever had to get out of the car and go in a store!). And yes I had to enter in all 50 schools in this lovely county and corral all the 1st through 5th grade boys into the cafeteria by myself mind you at one time and get them fired up enough so they would get in their minivans and tell their moms they had to join cub scouts or they would die!
They did train us on these evil tactics let me tell you...we would practice getting the kids fired up with "Do you want to shoot bows and arrows? Do you want to shoot a b.b. gun? Do you want to sleep in a cave?" Every year there was a new secret tactic too - once I had to learn to juggle b/c all the boys who signed up got a set of juggling balls. One year I had to learn to start a fire with (what do you call it?) flint sticks? Yes, in the cafeteria or gym I am surrounded by 75 boys and I'm starting a miniature fire with with cotton - if only the principal knew what I was up to! Lord knows that I had no proof any of those poor boys would get to do that stuff if their parents didn't bring them to the camps in the summer but hey, read the small print on the bottom of the page young men - "IF YOUR PARENTS ARE ORGANIZED AND MAKE YOUR GROUP FUN SO THAT YOU ACTUALLY GO CAMPING AND ATTEND A DAY CAMP IN THE HOT SUMMER WHERE YOUR PARENTS ARE THE VOLUNTEER LEADERS THAT MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN!" Oh, the guilt I feel now!!!!! I wanted to walk up to that Boy Scout Executive last night and say "Do you know what you really have done to my son - setting his expectations up so high????? Do you, huh????" But I just laughed and smiled through the meeting - oh, yeah I went with Eli last night - how could I not? The boy has never (NEVER) been so excited about joining anything in his life! So, it came full circle...I got to sit in the cafeteria chair and listen to the man in the uniform tell me how boy scouts would make him a better citizen - he'd probably be a senator, astronaut or maybe a President because of it - and you know what? I was actually a little excited! Too bad a 7month pregnant mom can't be the Tiger Cub Leader b/c I would do it I tell you! Well I have to go so I can keep trying to talk my husband into volunteering to lead Eli's group so they can....go shoot bows and arrows, b.b. guns and camp in a cave this year!

In honor of my mother (the famous author) turning 60

My mother, Linda Rose Stanley Weeks (that's her full, every name ever given to her...) turned 60 on Thursday. And in honor of her fabulous monumental birthday I wanted to share with all the blog readers out there (all 4 of you) that she has a most wonderful book in the bookstores that just came out in paperback. "The Road To Eden's Ridge" by M.L. Rose (her pseudo name along with her co writer and best friend Myra) came out in hardback about 6 years ago and it has finally made its way back onto the market in paper pack. She begins her book tour this weekend all around the South promoting it. I personally thought it was the most beautiful story intertwining independence of a young woman with the search of love (the love of a mysterious family story, her mate in life and most important her love for her place in country music). The descriptions of her surroundings both in rural Maine and big city Nashville, TN. are exceptional. The book started a love of old time country music for me - you know like Patsy Cline now my favorite songwriter. She has just finished creating the coolest ever website for the book so please if anything just check that out - go to one of her book signings near you too; they aren't going to be the typical boring ones where the author just signs your book but rather most (especially the ones around TN) are going to have country musicians playing music and other such entertainment.
The site is www.edensridge.com. And then get the book and tell me I didn't tell you so....you won't be able to put it down!

Don't mess with me today!

I was ahead of schedule. Got up at 6:15 and took a shower, put my make-up on...hair even though I know is dirty looks good for one more day in a pony tail, and went to wake up the boys - now it's 6:40ish. Nate left for a dentist apt. at 7:00am so I'm in charge of delivery of both boys to school - I'm ready!
7:00 both boys are dressed and eating a good breakfast - sausage and biscuit with strawberries and milk (I'm getting prouder of myself by the minute). Ian says he has to 'poop' which usually throws life off by about 20 mts. but this time he feels the urgency of the morning and does his thing quickly - no doddeling (if you knew him you would know that that was a miracle in itself). No one got food on their clothes - shoes are on - I packed Eli's lunch box - got backpacks ready -
7:10 (did you see that time??? Oh yes!!) We are walking out the door...
Eli gets in the van - "Mom, where's Ian's car seat?" Me - "WHAT!!!!" Eli - "It's in Daddy's car, remember?" Me - "Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Neighbors are waking up at this point and looking out their windows.
7:13 I call my friend and get her husband..."Jeff, are you taking Braden to school today?" (my nondirect way of saying - will you take Eli please?) But no....his mother is for some reason????
So, I tell him my situation (situation - I have to get Eli to his school by 7:20ish - not going to happen now - in order to drive across town to get Ian to his school by 7:55 - not wanting to take a risk without one child in a booster seat - darn those state laws to keep us safe!)
Back to Jeff...he tells me he has an extra booster seat - so we high tale it (I did watch for crazy mom van drivers on the road since Eli was not in a booster seat) - make it to friend's house - grab the booster - screech out of his driveway and head back to main road for Eli's school...
7:25 at this point - thinking maybe I can have everyone to school on time but not sure; I take deep breaths - Eli (my anxious one) worried he'll be late but I reassure him that no, he won't be late but right on time it's his brother who will probably be late...Ian hears this and not to my surprise seems fine with the fact! Oh I love them! hee hee
We drive through CRAZY MTSU STUDENT FIRST WEEK TRAFFIC - I'm giving dirty looks to thug looking teenagers who just rolled out of bed trying to take up the roads while my minivan driving self is on a mission - EXCUSE ME@@@@@@
7:39 - Eli gets out of van and walks into his school - probably 1st child to get to his room but didn't have to go to 'early duty' which he is very excited about.
Now the real race begins - I screech back onto CRAZY MTSU MAIN DRAG WITH CRAZY COOL DRESSED (PUT SOME MORE CLOTHES ON) SORORITY GIRLS...and get back onto the quiet hwy. 96 that takes me to Ian's school out in the country! I'm not speeding (Mom and Dad!) and peel (oh, did I say peel?) into Ian's school at 7:56 - maybe we can make it.
7:59 -"Ian please run!" I say in a calm but crazed voice as we enter the school.
I get stopped!!! 8:00 on the school wall - sign in late please!
8:02 I'm finally signing in and no I won't put a reason for my babies tardiness to school thank you unless you want me to write an essay! So I grab the glowing white note so all can see what a 'lazy mom' I am that I obviously didn't get my child up in time for his education of the day - and we start walking down the hall.
Now what???? 8:04 lady runs down the hall behind me saying "mammmm.." me- "yes?"
Her - "You can't walk your child to class anymore - Mr. Duke said yesterday was the last day to do that!" Me - shocked and about to either punch her (not really) or burst into tears - says "Oh, ok..." (as I look at all the parents walking past me to their kids rooms - what's the secret I wonder?) I look at my little baby who might I mention doesn't turn 5 years old until this coming Sunday, with his giant book bag weighing down his back - and I say "Ian, baby, you have to walk to your room, ok?" He looks at me and smiles and says "ok!" (HE'S SO BRAVE!) So, he starts the lonely trek to his room - looking back over his shoulder about 5 times to make sure I'm still watching - and waves bye to me as he enters his room (about 50 feet away).....
8:06 - I'm biting my lip and blinking profusely! I make it out of the school and burst into tears.
Might I add - this is the first time I have cried since he started school so it was over due people!
And I don't even want to but I will (b/c I can laugh at myself thank you) - I'm going to help his class water paint and then eat lunch with him in 30mts (9:30) so I know I'm absolutely ridiculous - no need to write it to me, thanks!

What? It's 9:00am and I'm blogging?

I've waited (is that the right word?) 7 years now to have one full day at home by myself with no preschoolers/babies fighting for my attention and the day has finally come. Of course it is only 2 hours into that dreamed of day and what am I about to do, after blogging of course, go to a quick MOPS kick-off to visit some friends and then rush off to volunteer in Eli's classroom. Am I healthy? Rather am I nuts? I should be rushing off to get a pedicure or take a nap - not exercise (something us mothers always joke that we'd do once we didn't have kids at home anymore) - but don't give up on me too soon....I'll come home after eating lunch with Eli (I packed my lunch box already!!!) and then I'll have a total of 2 hours to do what I want....hummmm??? I'm already thinking I need to buy crickets at the pet store for Eli's newest pet Gecko 'sleepy' to eat. And I do need a need battery for my cell phone that keeps dying. Sarah!!!! What about reading in the lazy chair and taking a nap???? Oh, but this is just the first day of my short found freedom; I'll have two months until I start all over again with baby girl!
Oh and I promise not to blog about what I'm doing on my free days each new day - I don't want to make anyone too jealous! hee heeeeee...... but hey, if you need a babysitter, friends, while you run to the doctor or get some groceries call me - I'm sure I'll be free! Love you all!

Ian's class meeting

Nate and I go to Ian's class meeting last night and it dawns on me that my baby is going to real school soon! He got into "Kindergarten Readiness" or as some schools call it Developmental Kindergarten, Pre-K, etc. All the kids in his class have July, Aug, Sept. birthdays (turning 5 just now) so that was cool to me. His teacher was lovely really: older, many many years of teaching actual kindergarten and treated all of us parents like we were her kids. I like that!
Bad news? Principal stated he felt like by August 26th we shouldn't walk our little ones to their classroom anymore. (What????) Did I mention this school is huge and the kids have to go into the gym altogether and find their row with their class and then wait on their teacher to come get them? That freaks me out! They'll have to block me from walking into the gym at least - maybe by the time baby girl comes in Oct. Iwill feel confidant he won't get lost from the car to the gym row! I'm so silly. Between Eli and Ian, Ian is by far the one who won't be scared to walk in by himself. Eli still wanted me to walk him in after the first day of school and I'm so mean I said that was silly and he was fine! Did I really just admit that on my blog?
I know Ian will do great in school...I'm more anxious for him getting into trouble because he seems to have a problem listening and following directions. As my common question to him is "Ian, what did I just tell you to do?" where as he responds all angelic like "I don't know..." But I remember getting into trouble for that in 6th grade! "It's in his genes teacher, he can't help it!"
He starts next week on Wed....I'll post more then!

First Grade

The day before Eli started first grade he blurted out in the van to Nate and I that 1st grade teachers had mean faces and weren't as nice as kindergarten teachers. I assured him that wasn't true although I had heard his teacher was pretty serious compared to his past kindergarten teacher who grabbed every child and squeezed them morning and afternoon, gave finger hugs ALL THE TIME and told everyone she loved them. Plus she looked like a 7 foot barbie doll - bless her! Eli said he thought he had read that in a book...
So, then we walk in his class Monday morning and what do you think happened? Sure enough he walks up to his teacher, I'm sure expecting a big hug and welcome, and she tells him (very seriously) to find a desk and get seated. My heart fluttered as I left the room thinking all the kids looked like deer in headlights! "THIS AIN'T KINDERGARTEN TOTO!"
But when I picked him up (in car line mind you - I didn't even walk in to get him) his teacher made a point to wave goodbye to him until he saw her as the van door was closing and then he looked at me and said "I have the best 1st grade teacher! She has tub toys and the other teacher doesn't and she loves to go outside and play on the playground...we went outside twice today!" I was so excited for him!
It's Friday and he still likes 1st grade, was motivated to do his homework (yes, homework!) because his buddy Eli Cr. turned his in on Tuesday (it was due Friday - thanks Eli Cr.), and he even was given a trading card from a buddy this afternoon in car line and thought that was the coolest (now we have to go buy trading cards.....ughhhh)! But all in all I couldn't ask for a better first week experience at Campus School!

A reflection of a wonderful summer vacation

Summer 2008 is ending this week...school doors open on Monday, little Ian soon starts full time school (although he is pretty mute on the subject), tans will soon fade and long hair is getting cut off (that would be on the boys not mommy). But as I look at my summer pictures and pick some that display the best memories I haven't already 'posted' on my blog I am filled with happy memories! Going home to Curve to visit Nanna and Bob-Bob with our cousins will always hold a special place in the boys (and mine) hearts. Top things we did there this summer...visiting the Mississippi River creek bed and digging up clay only to return to the house and 'mold' bowls to take back home! Swimming, gaining confidance, and learning new tricks at the pool in the field! Climbing those huge pine trees in the back yard with only swim shorts and no shoes! Pulling out all the farm junk we could find and making 'houses' only to have to put them all back!

The boys first boat ride with great friends was another great day we had. They got to ride a sea du (sp) along with their pregnant mommy, get pulled in a float and swim in the lake. That was great fun! Thanks Loughry's!

Riding the Rover - if you live in Murfreesboro and haven't done this - shame on you! I admit last summer we did it almost every week but this summer we made it on their once and walked to the library (maybe Mommie's big tummy had something to do with it).

I have really had a great summer with Eli and Ian but honestly I admit I'm glad to see it come to an end. We are all getting a little tired of so much together time and squables seem more frequent between brothers then ever before. So, good-bye summer days of freedom, late sleeping, laying out by the pool, hanging with friends and eating too much McDonalds!

Without Nate

Nate has been gone for 3 days now, due to arrive tonight though for any stalkers who might be reading this post! =) I am blessed in that my husband travels maybe once a year with work so please forgive me for the pitty party I'm about to lay out. It's not that it has been extra hard with him gone because the boys are of age that they aren't that much 'trouble' to take care of. As well as the fact that between my sister and some girlfriends I have been kept very busy being entertained over the last 3 days. It's just that the emptiness in the house at night and the "knowing" that Nate isn't here makes it so hard. I truly don't see how women whose husbands travel weekly stand it! I had my breakdown thought after I couldn't get in touch with Nate last night before I went to bed and then this morning I hadn't heard from him; so by 12:30 today I was just about in tears wondering if he had died. Then he called and quickly told me his cell phone battery died (he only has a car charger) and was charging it in the rental van on his way from the hotel). I was so relieved but once again disapointed in myself for overreacting and thinking the worse and then running with those thoughts wondering how I was going to raise my two boys and baby girl on the way alone! I'm so dramatic; how do you people stand me? =0
Like I said before though the boys have been really good up until this afternoon though. The constant picking and fighting between a 7 and almost 5 year old (in Papa John's at this particular time) made me snap and I let them have it. As I was 'letting them have it' (verbally) in the van I saw a man walking by my van looking at me with a smirk on his face. I wanted to jump out and tell him "You don't understand...I'm actually trying to be a good mom and stop my kids from growing up to be rude, inconsiderate, selfish adults! You should thank me mister!" But I just kept yelling at my kids. It was actually very quiet (after they stoped crying) on the ride home. Maybe kids at some point realize when they have pushed their moms over the edge and they just stop being obnoxious? But WHY DO SIBLINGS HAVE TO BE SO MEAN TO EACH OTHER??????? TELL ME THAT PLEASE!!!!
All is well now though b/c I actually got them fed (take out for the umpteenth time this week), bathed (shampoo and conditioner I might add), read 3 books (2 bible stories from those very expensive leather bound bibles I bought from that traveling saleswoman - remember) and put to bed - no peep out of them! I'm so good! hee heee
By the way...I'm about to go do my facial that I finally got from Mrs. Cindy Crawford herself - (remember the t.v. commercial - what's it called - sales thing with Cindy Crawford's face lotions from France I bought in a moment of weakness alone at home) please tell me I look stunningly beautiful the next time you see me!

I was tagged

Here are the rules:a. Link to the person who tagged you.b. Post the rules on your blog.c. Write six random things about yourself.d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blog.e. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I rode a sea doo this past Saturday and I'm 5 months pregnant (I kept thinking this can't be as bad as riding a horse right Dr. McGowan?)
2. I love making new girlfriends!
3. I"m addicted to the sun and being tan - God help me when I get skin cancer.
4. I have an obsession with organizing things and starting new projects (big ones that take a long time to finish -like MOPS and bible studies and teaching preschool)
5. I want to wear a tierra (?) around town one day with all the confidance that says "Yes, I'm a queen visiting M'boro from another country - pay me your respects!" hee hee
6. One of my greatest memories of my granny Rose was her calling me her "little sunshine."

Ok - now I have to tag 6 people right? I'm so computer illiterate; please forgive me if I mess this up!
Beth http://www.loughrys.blogspot.com
Katie http://katiedustin.blogspot.com
Bianca http://www.3tsinapod.blogspot.com
Beth http://thekeafamily.blogspot.com
Byrena http://www.byrena.blogspot.com
Katie http://www.katiedustin.blogspot.com

I have no self control!

It all started a week and a half ago...I was alone on a Saturday morning (it was a freakish alignment of the planets I guess) and watching an infomercial while folding clothes. Yes, I was thinking how pitiful that was that all I could find on my noncable t.v. was an interesting infomercial because all those kid shows that I usually love for entertaining my children were taking up all the channels!!! So, there she was Cindy Crawford telling me the secret to her beauty was this melon juice extracted by a doctor only found in France (?) who she persuaded to make into a lotion that she could bring to all of us regular women who too wanted to be beautiful like her! And I couldn't resist it! I had to call - she was speaking to me through that t.v.! I questioned the operator like any educated shopper about to give away her credit card number should and once I felt like I really knew "Sheila" and she wouldn't lie to me I bought the whole package of beautifing lotions. I waited a good week before I had the nerve to tell Nate I had gotten set up for a monthly program of receiving this magic potion all for a low price of .... (you'll have to watch the show!) I hate to end this tale by saying that I still haven't received the stuff in the mail and now I"m wondering if it was all a dream I had one night about being a runway model? I'll keep you posted (before and after pictures if I ever get it).
So, next in my line of wacky purchases - I get a door to door salewoman today selling children's bibles. After her "only 10 minutes" of talking with me and the boys stairing at her like 'why does mommy have this stranger sitting on our living room floor asking her personal questions, she too became my new friend. (She is an exchange student from Hong Kong going to college in VA. and trying to earn some money doing an internship selling these bibles for Thomas Nelson). Yes, Yes, I bought the 3 volume leather bound bibles from her. I couldn't say no and I know the kids will be blessed by the time we spend reading them at night - but still did I have to spend soooo much money! (At least I did call Nate this time and asked his opinion and he as he so lovingly does told me he trusts my judgement - bad choice Nate) =)
What will I buy next? Did I mention I hosted an UpperCase Living party a few weeks ago because I couldn't say no to the saleslady at my friend's U.C.L. party two months ago? But at least that time I got tons of free stuff and only paid out a little.

No one call me or visit me in hopes of getting me to buy anything!!!!!

Swim Team Champion

Our "Big E" as Nate now calls him is slowly overcoming a new fear this summer - the swim team! We 'made' him join in June (as all good parents make their children try new stuff); soon finding out practices are 5 days a week for an hour a time with intense swimming the entire 60mts. Yes, he cried - screamed - had stomach aches - pleaded with mommy (not daddy) to please not make him go - made me cry (behind his back of course) - but stuck with it...well, he had no choice with that part! (We are so mean). But after two weeks of practicing strokes he had his first swim meet this past Tuesday. This "ain't for the weak of heart" I realized after sitting in the sun at Sports Com along with about 200 other kids and parents for 5 (yes I said 5) hours of waiting. He swam 4 competitions (I still don't know swim team lingo) that took about 30 seconds (give or take the slowest swimmer) each time. Then we went back and sat and waited and waited and still waited for his next meet (another term - don't know if I'm using it correctly).
I have to tell just one funny story - the first time he got to race he was so nervous; he had been waiting now 2 hours to do this, but the time came and he got up on the block (via pictures you can witness). Well, he started the relay (there were 3 of them on the lane on his team racing the breast stroke). He went down the other end of the pool and the other swimmer jumped over him to start his lap but our little Eli (I guess so eager to help his team winning and for goodness sake he had been waiting two hours to swim) turned around and kept swimming after the kid on his team. Everyone was yelling at first but of course that is futile b/c SWIMMER CAN'T HEAR YOU IN THE WATER! Luckily a time keeper stopped him at the other end before he turned around and swam another lap. Yes, they were disqualified (oh yeah - they disqualify you over a kick rather then a frog foot - I made those terms up, cute huh?) He didn't quite realize what happened. Luckily he did better after that one.
So, he ended up helping his team come in second place for two races he was in "relays for the butterly" and Nate tells me the butterfly is the hardest stroke to do.
After he got his ribbons this week (AKA - why we took the picture of him cheezing with them) he has a changed attitude of swim team. Does he love it yet? NO! But he doesn't cry anymore - that's a big improvement.
p.s. After a practice this week he and Ian JUMPED OFF THE HIGH DIVE! Yes, IAN JUMPED OFF THAT THING. Both Nate and I were shocked as I admitted to them I would still not jump off that thing!

The Beach Experience

I say beach experience and not 'ocean experience' because I realize why people don't say we are vacationing at the ocean....it is a scary place! The boys loved Orange Beach but not so much the actual ocean. Oh, they liked being chased by the waves on the shore, stepping into the sinking sand and collecting water in buckets for their holes they dug to China all day but as far as getting inside the ocean - no way! We did that the first day except daddy was still bringing things down to the beach and mommy took the boys into the water. What a great idea for the timid one to conduct the first ocean experience. Sure enough I saw a giant (in my eyes) jellyfish right by our feet and mangaged NOT TO SCREAM but calmly said, "oh boys, let's get out of the water...there is a jellyfish" then I tried to back track and sound all fascinated by the stinging hellish creature looming past my offsprings bodies but they were onto me! They freaked out after realizing what they were looking at and refused to get back into the ocean. It didn't help that we saw about 100 more of those ministering so called fish along the shoreline. And yes, we all at some point did get back into the ocean to play only to all be stung by a jellyfish! But to my disapointment we didn't have to pea on anyone's wounds (you know that's what they say do now) but rather we all toughed it out except one boy we were with who screamed so loud and long that many passersby gave us their 'theory' on how to cure a jellyfish sting and then someone did finally give us their solution of vinegar in a bottle she carried with her. That did help - so bring plenty of it if you go to the 'ocean'.

Swimming in the pool was a good passtime but they all loved digging - there was much help from the two Dad's who dug for about 30-45 mts each beach visit. I swear the hole was 4 or more feet deep. We even had a passerby tell us we MUST fill in that hole b/c the sea turtles were coming in to lay their eggs and they would die b/c of our hole! So, we did indeed fill it in the first day but after that we got lazy and happily never saw any caught sea turtles in our hole the following morning!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

It's shameful that I haven't written in a month - but I've been gone too much enjoying summer at last. But....onto more important news! We had the ultrasound on Thursday and saw our baby girl. She is quite frisky, moving constantly and playing pick-a-boo with her hands the hold time. It was awsume to see her alive inside me moving around, wiggling her fingers and crossing her legs. All is healthy and organs, brain, bones look formed - don't we mothers hold our breath as they go through the list of searching for each vital organ to see if "oh yes, there are four chambers of the heart..." it is nerve wracking to lay there and wait to see if you have a perfectly formed child or not. I truly feel so blessed by God to have a third healthy pregnancy! We are thrilled to meet this baby girl. Eli is such a proud big brother. He so wanted a little sister (Ian has been cheering for a boy and insisted on arguing with us that afternoon that no, indeed it was a boy not a girl). But Ian is coming around as he see's his big brother proudly tell everyone about their little sister's body parts they saw inside my tummy. (We took everyone to the ultrasound apt. but Ian fell asleep through it - what a great story to tell baby girl when she is old enough).

What a great weekend - we attended our second annual 'Webb Family Reunion' (Nate's mom's side of the family) at Fall Creek Falls. It was great fun - the boys enjoyed a semi-parent free/rule free weekend of running like crazy outside in the woods and through a lodge built for sleeping 100 people (there were only 35ish of us). Lot's of freedom for the young ones and an interesting break for the adults like me without little ones to watch over and worry with. I'm looking forward to holding a baby again - someone who needs more attention - of course I'm sure once I get that I'll be thinking "wow remember all that freedom I took for granted when it was just my independent boys I was responsible for." I'm so fickle! hee hee


Mother's Day....I told Nate I wanted something that the boys had made, from them you know - not store bought. He was such an awesome Dad! He helped them make me bath soaps that smell delicious. They were so proud of their little endeavor and wanted to make sure I used them this morning when I woke up. I must say also that I was very impressed by the school gifts as well. Way to go teachers! Ian made a sweet tray to carry stuff on with a modge podge of pictures he drew, his name and a photo of himself. Also some bath salts that he was quite obsessed over holding and putting his fingers in all the way home from school. He too wanted to make sure I had used them last night in my bath.

Eli drew a picture of me that is so great - I have very lovely long eyelashes and some beautiful red lips . This is what he wrote on it "MY MOM"..."My mother's name is Sarah. She is 32 years old. She looks like my mom and feels good. She smells like flowers because she works in the garden. She has 2 children, Eli and Ian, but she is about to have 3 because she has a baby. For work, she teaches preschool. My favorite thing she cooks is chicken. She helps me draw jets. For fun she sits in the backyard with her flowers. We like to swing together. She likes to shop at the mall. She likes to buy flowers. She is happiest when she sees me smile and sad when her flowers die. I want Mom to know...That I love her! Love, Eli.
(Yes, I cried and cried - he was so proud!) He made a beautiful clay painted necklace for me with the help of an awesume volunteer art teacher in his room. I love it!

I'm trying desperately to finish 3 paintings for customers (that sounds so official)..I"m trilled that I actually have some business keeping me busy. It is fun but a little nerve wracking as I doubt my ability all the time. Nate is so encouraging though and really helps me with 'measurements' in trying to center words - my greatest weakness! I tried something new though in painting a canvas for a teacher's gift for someone that is all words and fancy as opposed to drawing cutesy pictures, dots. I thought it was much much harder b/c cute is easy - no one wants that too look perfect but when something is in your living room looking serious that is another story. But I really appreciate all my friends keeping me busy and spreading the word!

All this rushing is because Nate and I are heading out for Orlando on Thursday afternoon. He has a work trip (which is amazing since professor's hardly ever have fun, paid for, work trips in Fl.) but I'm going as a stow away (although I did pay for my ticket). We are staying at the Gaylord in Orlando. Everyone keeps asking me if I"m planning on shopping in the city while Nate is in seminars. I have told everyone I'm a chicken when it comes to venturing out in a strange city by myself with no car. My idea of a relaxing weekend consists of sitting by the pool, tanning and reading a good book! Also, sleeping a lot, watching some movies and eating great food! My parents are being soooooo kind to come here and watch the boys for 3 days - school drop off/pickup, soccer games (two of them), and all that goes along with two young boys in a small house! I so appreciate them driving 3 hours to keep the Callender Clan! The boys couldn't be more excited.

The crazy part of the whole month is when Nate and I get back we pack up and leave 4 days later to go on our family vacation to Gulf Shores, AL. with friends to the beach for a week! What a life huh? We've never been to the beach with the boys so they are beside themselves!
Just thinking about all that has to get done now at 10:53 pm is exhausting me...I'm off to bed.

MOPS is over

Today was my last MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) meeting as coordinator. I think this year has been the most exciting but exhausting for me probably because my time to lead this group was coming to a needed end. I have been coordinating a MOPS group now for a total of 5 years, first in Dyersburg, TN. and then in Murfreesboro. This is such a wonderful blessing of a ministry that reaches out to mothers with young ones and shows support through the love of Christian fellowship, speakers and creative activities. I have been blessed by all of the friends I have met through this ministry from all over the country....many who I would have never taken the time to get to know if we hadn't been in this group together. I have learned from these other moms how to laugh at myself and my kids, how to cry out loud and admit when I was overwhelmed to others (and not be embarrassed over it) and to step up and lead when I am called to be in charge of something and others are looking to me to follow. This ministry has given me the confidence I needed when I felt like I was "just a mom at home" and couldn't do anything else. I found an inner strength to go beyond what I thought I could juggle (just my kids) and learned that I did have those skills to work with a team, plan, and execute meetings for a large group of women!
I am being called out to a time of rest and receiving rather then giving, giving, giving and for that I'm excited! With Ian going to school next year and new baby on the way in the Fall my life will look so different. I'm sure I will be more then happy to sit back and take in the blessings of other women's planning and working! But like I told them at the meeting today - I'm sure I'll be back...I'm not one to sit around for long. I love to serve others and be a part of a team that is such a blessing to so many moms!
If you are interested in finding a MOPS group near you go to www.mops.org and type in your zip code to find your local group!