Blog updates..

Lets see--I will start with the weekend. Brian got home on Friday (Yea!!) after having been gone all week and I can't tell you how much we all missed him. It was the longest we have been away from him since Abby's birth and boy we were ready for him to come home. It was a happy reunion.

Saturday was such a nice day. My parents came up to keep the kids so we could go on a "real" date. A date that started at 5:30 and didn't end until nearly 11:00. We got to eat dinner at a reasonable time (no waiting around to put Abby to bed), walk around down town, and even go see Peter Cetera sing with the Louisville Orchestra. I am not kidding when I say we were one of the youngest couples there but we couldn't care less. Peter Cetera put on a GREAT show and we had such a great time. He sings, looks, and acts much younger than he really is. We both said it was our favorite date thus far.

Sunday, we spent relaxing and recuperating from all the excitement. We even went to the mall....which proved to be more excitement than we were wanting. :)

This week has been a week filled with lots of friends. We had a play date with Jennifer, Houston, and Edie on Monday, a play date with the neighbors Tuesday, and another play date today with the neighbors today. The socialization has been welcomed and fun. However, I think the socialization has come to an end for a few days. I took Will to the dr. today (after a couple sleepless nights) and found out he has a virus that is leaving ulcers on his tongue. He is in quite a bit of pain so hopefully with some strong Tylenol in his system, he will sleep well tonight. I felt so bad for not taking him to the dr. sooner but I really thought it was just some typical 3 year old behavior (scared of the dark, not liking the things I was fixing for dinner, etc.... ) Oh the things we do as parents. Those poor first born children.

Hope the rest of your week is a good one.

Here are a couple pics of us goofing around

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To Ney

Hope you have a wonderful time in Florida. Here is a sweet message from Master Will before you go. As you can see, he took "Ratchet" to bed with him tonight. Be safe, be careful, and eat lots of crab legs for us. Thanks again for all the goodies. We love you.

Just goofing around...

My friends...the steam cleaner and Dual Power.

Brian, Will, and Big Jule went to the balloon glow last night thus giving me the perfect opportunity to.......can you guess it.....read a book.....do my nails......watch a chick flick....relax on the couch......nope....STEAM CLEAN! Believe it or not, I was thrilled to have the chance to do it because our living room carpet needed it desperately and typically, by the time Will goes to bed, I am just too tired. So, I worked for a couple hours and I couldn't be more pleased with how everything looks. I had to take a picture so I could savor the moment after all my hard work was done. I even did the steps too. Who needs the professionals when you have me around. :) (Just kidding)

Oh...and I wanted to mention something about this stuff...Spray-n-Wash Dual Power. It is the BEST and I mean the BEST stain remover. You name it...this stuff can make it disappear. It may take several washes (on the really stubborn stains) but it eventually gets them out. Just remember not to put the clothes in the dryer if they need to be treated again because the heat will set the stain in. Also, you can't leave it on your clothes too long or it will bleach them. Try it and let me know what you think.

Much better...

I am so thankful for so many things. Here are just a few of them...
1. I feel so much better. I was pretty worried last week because I had some weird head stuff going on but I think I have narrowed it down to some inner ear stuff. I was so nauseous, light headed, tired, and felt so out of it. I have never felt so "weird" and yucky in all my life. My dr. wanted me to first to try some good allergy medicine for a week and if there was no improvement than she was going to schedule an MRI. Praise God that the allergy medicine has really helped. I think my ears are finally starting to drain thus relief from all the crazy symptoms. I feel so much better. Praise God...over and over.
Funny side note..while I was bargaining with God about eating better, reading my bible more, being more Christ like, etc, etc,..........I went to the grocery and bought fruits, whole grains, and a bunch of veggies. Come to find out, the spinach I bought had E-coli. Lucky for me (and for Brian), I hadn't got around to fixing it. Had you thrown food poisoning in on top of all my other symptoms, I would have been a mess (mentally and physically).
2. I really enjoyed my first bible study meeting on Thursday. It promises to be a great study filled with lots of learning and fellowship. I can't tell you how much I needed and missed being in a study. I think God has been preparing me for this study and I am ready for the challenge. Praise Him.
3. Mops (mothers of preschool students) was a lot of fun on Friday. I am so glad that I went and joined. I met so many moms in the same stage of life as me and I think Will even had a great time. (Sissy...not so much.) One mom in my group even invited me and the kids to a play date on Monday. I am so excited about the opportunity to make some new friendships.....for me and for Will (though old ones are the best). Praise God.
Hope your week was a good one.

Major Neglect

Oh I have been so very neglectful of my blog. Please forgive me. Many excuses--some good, some not--I will try to do better.
Last week was just one of those tough weeks as a mom. I found myself even questioning if I am cut out to be a stay-at-home-mom. For as wonderful as it is, it can sure be an isolating, lonesome, tough job. By far, it is the hardest job I have ever had. Teaching school was not an easy..all the take home work, disrespectful students, tough parents, even tough co-workers, but there is no pressure like the pressure you feel when the kids are your own...truly your own...not just for a year...but for a life time (God willing). I put a lot of pressure on myself to do a good job with Will and Abby, to try and teach them as much as I can, be patient with them, and shower them with love but there are just some days..I guess even weeks...I feel like they deserved more than I gave them. I suppose that is just motherhood....or just life. Fortunately, I live under God's grace and it is new each day. I am so very thankful for that.

We have been having such a hard time with Will and the whole potty issue. The kid just doesn't like to poo. I have never seen anything like it. He will hold it and hold it and hold it until he is absolutely miserable and this is with two teaspoons of milk of magnesia a day plus extra fiber in his diet. It is crazy. I can't even get him to go in his diaper much less on the potty. Sigh.

I can't think of much else exciting to report. I have now worked at the consignment store two times and it is work..let me tell ya. I don't sit down for a second. I'm not sure how much longer or how often I will do it since she just wants to pay me (cash) $6 an hour or $5 an hour with a slight discount. It is not even minimum wage and the opportunity cost alone (Brian rushing home from work, being away from my family,..etc) make it almost not worth it. I suppose it was fun (or should I say different) while it lasted.

I have been feeling a bit under the weather so I am hoping a trip to the dr. tomorrow will shed some light on what's going on. It seems to come and go but I am ready for it to be gone.
My bible study begins Thursday and I am super excited. It is called the Amazing Collection and we are starting with Genesis and ending in Revelation. A two year study! I am sure it will be every bit of "Amazing". I have also joined a MOPS group and our first meeting is Friday. I am looking forward to meeting some other moms in the same stage of life that I am in. It promises to be a busy, but hopefully fun week. I will keep you posted.

She's starting to move....

Watch out world...Sissy is coming.

Here are some shots that Will took with the camera as well. Pretty talented huh? :)

Happenings...

All I can say is holy moly. We went to the zoo on Saturday with Brian's dad, sister, and her two kids and boy did we walk...and walk...and walk. We saw all that the zoo had to offer and I have never been so tired in my life. I didn't even know that they had penguins at our zoo because we have never even made it to that end of the zoo before. It was my first time to see the Hippo up close too. My brain couldn't fathom how something that large was just walking around under water. We had a great time but we were so wiped out the rest of the evening. We felt like 30 somethings going on 80. Pretty sad.

On Sunday, Ney (Brian's mom) came to visit us and boy it was nice. Brian got the yard mowed, I got all the ironing done, and we got in some good family time. The best of both worlds.

Today, the kids and I spent all day in Lexington visiting some of our favorite people. It was such a nice day. Will is crazy about A.J. (and likewise) and I got to get in some good girl time. A perfect mix of kids, adult conversation, and fun.

Thursday night I am going to work at a local consignment store here. My first "job" since I quit teaching. When I went to consign some of Will's clothes, mine, and Tracy's, I could see how behind they were (as evidenced by all the crates) in putting out the clothes, so I asked her if she needed some help. I told her I couldn't do anything during the day but I could help her after hours if she ever needed it. She took me right up on my offer and is putting me to work Thursday from 6 to about 10. I was thrilled. It will be a nice break for me and hopefully one that I can do from time to time. Brian was more than agreeable to watch the kids so I am going to give it a go. I will let you know how it all goes down. I hope Miss Abby isn't too much of a handful.

Here are some pictures from the past couple days. And yes, my son was the only 3 year old in the entire zoo that walked around with "noculars" the entire time. What a little scientist.