April began with David out of town for business, but thankfully it was only for a couple of days. We headed to Alabama the first Saturday - our first time there since Christmas - and let Grandma celebrate her birthday by cooking us all a giant feast. We caught up on the latest with each other, the kids hunted and dyed eggs, some of us grown ups shot guns, and we all ate ourselves sick. In other words, it was a usual perfect visit to Alabama.
The next week was Audrey's spring break. As I wrote in an earlier post, we tried to do a few out-of-the-ordinary fun things like a puppet show at the library, a sleepover for her with David's mom, some time with my mom, and a few play dates. The week went by quickly and I actually found myself enjoying the break from the normal MWF shuffle to and from preschool. That week we also had our master bathroom and upstairs interior doors painted (they were never done and were still just beige primer. Weird.)
David headed back to California in the middle of the month. While of course I miss him terribly (and not just for the help!), I do like getting a few projects tackled while he's gone. I've always stayed up late and done that from the time we were newlyweds. Of course, back in those pre-kid days, the projects were a lot more ambitious. I remember painting the master bedroom at our old house several different colors before giving up and hiring a painter to help me finish. I hung new curtains and artwork there and in the hall and he hardly new what house he was in by the time he got home. Late-night projects these days are more along the lines of organizing photo albums and cleaning out/reorganizing files, but it's still productive and it still counts.
Not only did I stay busy at night, but we had some fun during the day too while he was away. We got to see David's Great Aunt and Uncle who came by for a visit that week as well as the Taylors, who were in town for a family birthday party. Audrey had her egg hunt at school and I got to hide 289 eggs for her class to find as they were bundled up in the 47 degree weather. Ah, April with your fickleness.
On the Saturday of Easter weekend, David and I ran our annual Bunny Hop 5K while his parents kept the kids. We were all supposed to do it together, but it was drizzling and a little chilly so we didn't want to take the kids out in it. We got cleaned up and drove to my nephew's 6th birthday party. The kids had so much fun bouncing all around the gymnastics facility they rented out. It often hits me when all of the cousins are together how quickly time is passing. We have such a beautiful, blessed family. We ended the day with a pajama picnic and a movie - one of my favorite ways to chill these days.
Easter Sunday was wonderful. We went to the 9:00 service at our church, which we hadn't actually done on Easter Sunday in several years. They offer a Saturday night Easter service that we usually attend, but were too tired to do this year. After church, we came home and saw the Easter Bunny had come while we were away. (Funny side story: David and I weren't going to address the Easter Bunny at all and had planned on just putting out the baskets from us. However, the night before during bath, Audrey asked about the Easter Bunny visiting and completely put me on the spot. I knew that given the way her mind works, she would immediately call into question Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy if I squelched the Easter Bunny and I am NOT ready for that, so I went with it.)
After the baskets, we ate a nice lunch of ham, rolls, mac and cheese, corn pudding, and potato salad. It was no Alabama feast, but I was proud of it and everyone enjoyed it. David and I took turns hiding eggs in the backyard and let the kids hunt them before nap/rest. After they got up, we played, dyed eggs, and ate leftovers. It was a wonderful, relaxing family day that we really needed in between a busy few weeks.
The next week started off slowly - a visit to David at work to see his new office, errands, and teacher gift shopping - but built up to a slammed few days at the end. The last Thursday of the month, we had kindergarten registration for Audrey, a Room Mom Luncheon for me, and dinner with a friend. That Friday was Audrey's birthday celebration at school, her parent-teacher conference, I was Mystery Reader, and then we had a small group dinner that night. Saturday the four of us hit the zoo, which was a lot of fun once I had a teeth-gritting aside with Audrey about her incessant whining, and we loved showing them all of the animals on the gorgeous sunny day. Sunday was church and small group and then Monday I was back at Audrey's school all morning for her Field Day, after organizing a small landscaping project we were having done at the house. We sent the month out with a bang, that's for sure.
What else happened this month? David and I celebrated 15 years since our blind date and 14 years of being a couple (I had to be extra sure he was the right choice in that year in between - turns out he was), I got a physical and a nail in my tire, my running time went way down but my gym time went up, and we had a date night at the movies for the first time in a year(s?). We had small group two out of four Sundays (we took a break for Spring Break and then Easter) and I tackled a good chunk of party planning for AJ's birthday.
Kids' updates/stories
Luke is getting hilarious with his vocabulary and sayings. Audrey is always knocking our socks off with her mind and cracking us up with her humor. I really wish I did a better job of writing down all of the little quotes and tidbits, but here's what I can recall:
- Luke is getting into knock-knock jokes. Except he usually starts them with "ding-dong" and ends it with something like "APPLE JUICE" AHHHHAAAAHAAA!" It's really way funnier than an actual knock-knock joke.
- One morning Audrey sternly told Luke to "sit right there and do NOT move." He waited until she was downstairs and then I see him start dancing and hear his little voice taunt, "Look at me, Audrey! I moving! I moving! SEE ME?!" Ah, siblings.
- Watching Audrey at her Field Day made me so proud. There were no doubt some games she didn't want to do, and certainly not in front of everyone, but she never hesitated to jump in and give them a try. She was brave and gave it her best.
- Luke was drawing on the dry erase board in the sunroom and would then step back to let me guess what he drew. I'd throw something out and he'd laugh, slap the chair, and say, "No! I give you a hint..." and then tell me what it was. Every time. And it never stopped making me laugh.
- Audrey regularly uses words like eventually, evidently, appropriate, and consequence and it's so funny to hear in her little voice. I think it's time to start training her on the correct use of "literally", whose misuse is a pet peeve of mine.
- Luke's please/thank you manners and compliments are really getting good. He often says "Thanks for cooking dinner, Mommy" while we're eating or says "Good job, Audrey!" when she accomplishes something. At a little friend's birthday party he said "thank you" when he got cake without being prompted. Love it! (And you're welcome, Future Mrs. Luke Sinyard.)
That's all I can remember for now, but be sure to check out their cute faces in this month's picture gallery. My favorite shots are their adorable seersucker Easter selves (especially knowing I paid $8 for Audrey's already-monogrammed dress at consignment!)
April/Easter 2014
Happy May and please keep praying for Audrey's eyes. Hopefully I'll have a precious picture of her in her new glasses soon.
Thankful Thursday
Thursday, May 8, 2014
We are in full end-of-school-year swing (Field Day, Mother's Day, Pre-K graduation, presents for teachers, etc.) over here and also gearing up for an extremely anticipated early anniversary trip. I keep thinking I'll wrap up (read: start) my April recap and the days just keep ticking by. In the meantime, I'll pause to write out my first TT post in almost a month.
1. MOMS. Mine, my mother-in-law, my stepmother, our grandmothers, sisters-in-law, aunts, mom friends, etc. Not only would we not be here without them, but we simply couldn't survive without their care, prayers, support, and sacrifices. As a recent friend told me when I confessed I felt guilty about my freak-out over AJ's eyes: "BE overdramatic. That's what makes us good moms...we care so dang much!" To all the moms in my life who care so much - thank you from the bottom of my heart and Happy Mother's Day.
2. 85 degree weather. Sure, it's not 75 degree weather, but you know what? It's not 95 degree weather either. I'll take it.
3. Finding a decent one piece bathing suit. In an effort to become a better swimmer and be able to actually use it as an aerobic exercise effectively, I'm taking a few swim lessons this summer (No, really.) I needed a bathing suit to match my goals and, at the recommendation of my go-to guru Kara who has been coaching for 15+ years, I found one. And I don't loathe it. The swim cap she recommended on the other hand...well, we'll see.
4. Fun dates. David and I went out last Saturday morning and rode bikes (which, by the way, is not like riding a bike. It takes time to get the hang of it again!) We had so much fun doing something out of our ordinary together. Afterward, we ate lunch on a restaurant patio that was completely empty except for us. It was fantastic! Of course you love your spouse, but as someone very wise told me recently, remembering that you like them is really vital to a good relationship, too. Have I mentioned that WE CANNOT WAIT FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY TRIP?!
5. A great semester of small group. This past Sunday we had our last meeting and celebrated a wonderful 14 weeks with a cookout. It was a huge step of faith for David and I to lead a group of strangers in our home, but a dream come true to be able to use what God has given us and taught us to serve others. It'll be a nice break to have some time off from reading, lesson plans, and frantic last minute cleaning, but I have a feeling we'll be back in some capacity before too long. :)
Have a wonderful weekend and call yo Mamas!
1. MOMS. Mine, my mother-in-law, my stepmother, our grandmothers, sisters-in-law, aunts, mom friends, etc. Not only would we not be here without them, but we simply couldn't survive without their care, prayers, support, and sacrifices. As a recent friend told me when I confessed I felt guilty about my freak-out over AJ's eyes: "BE overdramatic. That's what makes us good moms...we care so dang much!" To all the moms in my life who care so much - thank you from the bottom of my heart and Happy Mother's Day.
2. 85 degree weather. Sure, it's not 75 degree weather, but you know what? It's not 95 degree weather either. I'll take it.
3. Finding a decent one piece bathing suit. In an effort to become a better swimmer and be able to actually use it as an aerobic exercise effectively, I'm taking a few swim lessons this summer (No, really.) I needed a bathing suit to match my goals and, at the recommendation of my go-to guru Kara who has been coaching for 15+ years, I found one. And I don't loathe it. The swim cap she recommended on the other hand...well, we'll see.
4. Fun dates. David and I went out last Saturday morning and rode bikes (which, by the way, is not like riding a bike. It takes time to get the hang of it again!) We had so much fun doing something out of our ordinary together. Afterward, we ate lunch on a restaurant patio that was completely empty except for us. It was fantastic! Of course you love your spouse, but as someone very wise told me recently, remembering that you like them is really vital to a good relationship, too. Have I mentioned that WE CANNOT WAIT FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY TRIP?!
5. A great semester of small group. This past Sunday we had our last meeting and celebrated a wonderful 14 weeks with a cookout. It was a huge step of faith for David and I to lead a group of strangers in our home, but a dream come true to be able to use what God has given us and taught us to serve others. It'll be a nice break to have some time off from reading, lesson plans, and frantic last minute cleaning, but I have a feeling we'll be back in some capacity before too long. :)
Have a wonderful weekend and call yo Mamas!
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Her Gorgeous Eyes
Friday, May 2, 2014
I've been up since 4:30am and cannot sleep, so I'm turning to my cheap form of therapy. For the first time in four nights, Luke isn't who is keeping me awake tonight. Instead it's Audrey. (If it's not one kid, it's the other....)
I took AJ to an eye doctor appointment today. But let me first back up and start the story at the beginning. She failed her basic pediatric eye exam at her four year old physical last July. I took her to Thomas Eye Group in August for a follow-up and, after having us wait for nearly 45 minutes, they did a full exam (mostly done by an assistant tech) and concluded that her eyes were healthy, but the jury was still out on whether she needed corrective lenses for poor vision. They told me to come back in six months for another exam. (Insert a several-month long battle about them billing medical insurance and the subsequent $350 bill we were stuck with, etc. etc.)
Six, er uh, 8.5 months later and after a recent incident where she couldn't read a sign a few feet away, I made an appointment for an optometrist recommended to me by the mother of one of her classmates. The results were far from inconclusive.
In her right eye alone, she is 3x more farsighted than the upper end of the normal range for kids her age. I was completely surprised at that finding as the child loves, loves, loves to read and does so for at least an hour a day during her quiet time.
She also has a significant astigmatism. Because of the difference between the two eyes (both are farsighted, but the right significantly more so), the doctor is concerned she is developing amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye". She is fairly confident that glasses will correct the problem without the need to patch her strong eye. They had to order frames, so we'll go back in a week to choose a pair and then back a week later to get them. Once she gets them she will have to wear them all the time. We'll follow up with the doctor every 6 to 8 weeks for a few months. If significant improvement isn't made quickly, we'll begin patching her strong eye a few hours a day at home.
First and foremost, let me me state that I'm very, very thankful it is not worse. When the doctor first reviewed the pictures of her eyes before the thorough exam, she was shocked and kept telling me how glad she was that we came in when we did (can you imagine my guilt for waiting 2.5 months longer than we should have?) It was a scary worse-case-scenario hour before she reassured me things were manageable.
So that's that. She needs glasses badly and will wear them, or some form of corrective lenses, for the rest of her life unless she gets Lasik at some point.
I am disproportionately and over dramatically bummed about this for a number of reasons. Having gotten glasses at the age of seven, I know this plight well and, frankly, it sucks. I'm concerned about the obvious medical aspect, but feel confident we'll be able to correct it somehow or another without irreversible damage. Beyond that, there's the guilt and sadness that she's been living life like this and doesn't know any different. It makes me cry just thinking about what the world has looked like for her since the day she was born. Add to that the guilt of having guilt, if that even makes sense. Then comes one of the things I do best: worry. I'm worried about her being teased (OH so much), I'm worried about the problem playing sports, I'm worried about the expense, and I'm worried I might do physical harm to the idiots at Thomas Eye Group. And lastly and a bit shamefully, there's a vanity aspect to all of it. When she was trying on frames at the doctor's office, I just hated seeing those gorgeous eyes and long, dark lashes covered up. It didn't look like "her".
So, yes, I'm losing sleep over this tonight, but God is up with me. Will you please pray for her, too? Pray for her brain to begin using her right eye as it should quickly. Pray for her to adjust to this new normal and be excited about her glasses. We're building it up as much as possible, but some mean kid along the way is going to tell her otherwise and I need that to hold off as long as it can. And, lastly, pray I sleep tomorrow night. Some decent rest would sure would help calm my mama drama. Thanks, y'all.
I took AJ to an eye doctor appointment today. But let me first back up and start the story at the beginning. She failed her basic pediatric eye exam at her four year old physical last July. I took her to Thomas Eye Group in August for a follow-up and, after having us wait for nearly 45 minutes, they did a full exam (mostly done by an assistant tech) and concluded that her eyes were healthy, but the jury was still out on whether she needed corrective lenses for poor vision. They told me to come back in six months for another exam. (Insert a several-month long battle about them billing medical insurance and the subsequent $350 bill we were stuck with, etc. etc.)
Six, er uh, 8.5 months later and after a recent incident where she couldn't read a sign a few feet away, I made an appointment for an optometrist recommended to me by the mother of one of her classmates. The results were far from inconclusive.
In her right eye alone, she is 3x more farsighted than the upper end of the normal range for kids her age. I was completely surprised at that finding as the child loves, loves, loves to read and does so for at least an hour a day during her quiet time.
She also has a significant astigmatism. Because of the difference between the two eyes (both are farsighted, but the right significantly more so), the doctor is concerned she is developing amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye". She is fairly confident that glasses will correct the problem without the need to patch her strong eye. They had to order frames, so we'll go back in a week to choose a pair and then back a week later to get them. Once she gets them she will have to wear them all the time. We'll follow up with the doctor every 6 to 8 weeks for a few months. If significant improvement isn't made quickly, we'll begin patching her strong eye a few hours a day at home.
First and foremost, let me me state that I'm very, very thankful it is not worse. When the doctor first reviewed the pictures of her eyes before the thorough exam, she was shocked and kept telling me how glad she was that we came in when we did (can you imagine my guilt for waiting 2.5 months longer than we should have?) It was a scary worse-case-scenario hour before she reassured me things were manageable.
So that's that. She needs glasses badly and will wear them, or some form of corrective lenses, for the rest of her life unless she gets Lasik at some point.
I am disproportionately and over dramatically bummed about this for a number of reasons. Having gotten glasses at the age of seven, I know this plight well and, frankly, it sucks. I'm concerned about the obvious medical aspect, but feel confident we'll be able to correct it somehow or another without irreversible damage. Beyond that, there's the guilt and sadness that she's been living life like this and doesn't know any different. It makes me cry just thinking about what the world has looked like for her since the day she was born. Add to that the guilt of having guilt, if that even makes sense. Then comes one of the things I do best: worry. I'm worried about her being teased (OH so much), I'm worried about the problem playing sports, I'm worried about the expense, and I'm worried I might do physical harm to the idiots at Thomas Eye Group. And lastly and a bit shamefully, there's a vanity aspect to all of it. When she was trying on frames at the doctor's office, I just hated seeing those gorgeous eyes and long, dark lashes covered up. It didn't look like "her".
So, yes, I'm losing sleep over this tonight, but God is up with me. Will you please pray for her, too? Pray for her brain to begin using her right eye as it should quickly. Pray for her to adjust to this new normal and be excited about her glasses. We're building it up as much as possible, but some mean kid along the way is going to tell her otherwise and I need that to hold off as long as it can. And, lastly, pray I sleep tomorrow night. Some decent rest would sure would help calm my mama drama. Thanks, y'all.
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Thankful Thursday
Thursday, April 10, 2014
This week has been AJ's spring break. Of course, when you only go to school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for half days, it's not as big of a deal as it probably is to the bigger kids. Still, I've tried to do some fun, different things. She got to spend the night with David's mom on Monday night (without Luke, which was a very big deal), I took them to a puppet show at the library yesterday, we had a mega play date complete with time at the playground/sand box and a pizza dinner, there was a surprise run-in with a friend at a park, and my mom is coming over tomorrow afternoon. I know it probably won't be as exciting and memorable as future ones she spends splashing through the waves (in a full one-piece with her father and I looking on until she's at least 25 years old), but hopefully she has enjoyed it.
Here is this week's list:
1. Dandelions. And the little chubby fingers that grab them out of the dirt and the thoughtful, imaginative brains that wish upon them, and the precious sweet lips that blow their seeds all over the ground. There are few childhood pleasures more simple and carefree than blowing dandelions.
2. Trying new fitness things. Although training for my half marathons has kept me motivated and in shape, it's also kept me in a sort of rut/box, afraid to cross train. I was often leery of missing important running time to do something else or risking an injury or soreness. Since I'm not currently training for anything, though, I've branched out a bit the last two weeks. I've been spending a lot of time on the stationary bikes and elliptical machines. Then, this morning I took a 5:30am Bodypump (weight lifting) class. I did not love the start time. I will not love how impossibly sore I am tomorrow. BUT, changing it up and trying new things? Very cool.
3. A forgiving heart. Luke accidentally broke Audrey's special wand last week and David glued it back together. She just remembered it this afternoon and was dancing around in it, declaring her princess royalty. At her rest/quiet time, she wanted to take it into bed with her while she looked at books. I leaned over to give her a kiss and braced myself against the bed...right onto the wand that was under the sheets. I heard it crack and said, "Oh Audrey, I'm SO sorry, but I think I just broke your wand again." She didn't hesitate, didn't cry, didn't even pout. She simply said, "That's okay, Mommy. Don't even worry about it" and gave me a kiss. WOW. The tender and immediate forgiveness was so sweet it made me tear up!
4. April 10, 1999. The day David and I met on a blind date. Because he is the love of my life and my best friend. Even when it's hard. Even when I'm a witch. Even when days go by without real hugs, real kisses, or real conversations. He is my favorite and I am grateful for 15 years of knowing him.
5. Apparently today is National Siblings Day (who knew?!), so I will seize the chance to list that I am grateful for two awesome big brothers. No one gets you and where you came from like your siblings. It is such a blessing to walk through life having that kind of support and "I'll-always-be-here-no-matter-what" kind of love. I also pray Luke and Audrey grow up being and staying the best of friends, if for no other reason than they'll both need to lean on each other when their father and I start losing our minds. Some days it seems like it's not that far off...
Here is this week's list:
1. Dandelions. And the little chubby fingers that grab them out of the dirt and the thoughtful, imaginative brains that wish upon them, and the precious sweet lips that blow their seeds all over the ground. There are few childhood pleasures more simple and carefree than blowing dandelions.
2. Trying new fitness things. Although training for my half marathons has kept me motivated and in shape, it's also kept me in a sort of rut/box, afraid to cross train. I was often leery of missing important running time to do something else or risking an injury or soreness. Since I'm not currently training for anything, though, I've branched out a bit the last two weeks. I've been spending a lot of time on the stationary bikes and elliptical machines. Then, this morning I took a 5:30am Bodypump (weight lifting) class. I did not love the start time. I will not love how impossibly sore I am tomorrow. BUT, changing it up and trying new things? Very cool.
3. A forgiving heart. Luke accidentally broke Audrey's special wand last week and David glued it back together. She just remembered it this afternoon and was dancing around in it, declaring her princess royalty. At her rest/quiet time, she wanted to take it into bed with her while she looked at books. I leaned over to give her a kiss and braced myself against the bed...right onto the wand that was under the sheets. I heard it crack and said, "Oh Audrey, I'm SO sorry, but I think I just broke your wand again." She didn't hesitate, didn't cry, didn't even pout. She simply said, "That's okay, Mommy. Don't even worry about it" and gave me a kiss. WOW. The tender and immediate forgiveness was so sweet it made me tear up!
4. April 10, 1999. The day David and I met on a blind date. Because he is the love of my life and my best friend. Even when it's hard. Even when I'm a witch. Even when days go by without real hugs, real kisses, or real conversations. He is my favorite and I am grateful for 15 years of knowing him.
5. Apparently today is National Siblings Day (who knew?!), so I will seize the chance to list that I am grateful for two awesome big brothers. No one gets you and where you came from like your siblings. It is such a blessing to walk through life having that kind of support and "I'll-always-be-here-no-matter-what" kind of love. I also pray Luke and Audrey grow up being and staying the best of friends, if for no other reason than they'll both need to lean on each other when their father and I start losing our minds. Some days it seems like it's not that far off...
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March 2014 Recap
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
March certainly came in like a lion and out like a lamb this year. We had a few really beautiful weather days sprinkled in between a lot of cold, icky ones. We managed to get out and enjoy the warmth when we could, but are definitely ready for spring to come and sit a spell.
The month was fairly easy going overall. No major events, holidays, or home improvement projects for us. David and I squeezed in two dates PLUS a lovely 24-hour break when the kids went to his parents for a night. Coincidently, we seemed to get along really well this month. :)
It was a socially busy month aside from dates, too: I got to see the Taylors for a morning when they were in town, had a parent brunch with Audrey's preschool class parents, ate dinner with friends twice, celebrated a neighbor's 40th birthday at her party, and took Audrey to celebrate her daughter's 5th the next weekend. The kids had their playmates, too: We did story time at the library, a few playdates at the park, and I kept a friend's daughter while she worked one day. We rounded out the month with a family dinner to celebrate David's grandmother's birthday.
We had family pictures on March 8th in Toccoa. A friend of ours that we knew in college lives up there and we love her style so much that it was well worth the drive. Plus, it's Toccoa, so you don't have to go far to find open spaces without crowds. They turned out absolutely amazing. The hours upon hours of shopping for coordinating outfits for four people, ultimately buying up everything in sight to try on everyone at home, and then returning the stuff we didn't wear all paid off. See for yourself in the gallery...when you're finished reading, of course.
The end of the month picked up pace a bit. The third week, Audrey's school had Teacher Appreciation Week. I made little dry erase frames for them and the registrar and took the teachers lunch from their favorite deli on Monday, we picked out hand soap/lotion and a Bath and Body Works gift card along with AJ's handprint and a note on Wednesday, and we made homemade cookies for them, the nurse, and the enrichment teacher and put them in cute jars for Friday. We appreciated the heck out of them, because HELLO, they're preschool teachers and therefore royalty in my book.
We continued our small group on Sunday afternoons and have anywhere between 8-12 adults and 5-10 kids each week. Our church also put on a great training session one evening this month complete with an amazing worship set and food at their new campus location. After wrapping up the book Home Run, we'll be starting the book The Blessed Life and finish out the semester with it.
Other news: I got to be Mystery Reader for Audrey's class and then we snuck in a Mommy-Daughter Date at a frozen yogurt shop. St. Patrick's Day was the no-work, easy "holiday" it should be and we all just wore green. I also trained for and completed my third half marathon. It was by far my favorite to date, and you can read more details about it in this post if you haven't already.
The kids are doing well. Luke had his two year check up and amazed the doctor with his vocabulary and social skills. He said there are only a handful of two year olds he sees a month that are as easy and cooperative as Luke and only a handful a year that can follow all of the instructions he gave him (i.e. taking big, deep breaths, lying down on the table, etc.) He was talking to Luke about keeping one of the tongue depressors to use in his vet kit I told him we had. The doctor asked about looking in a lion's mouth with it. Luke laughed and said, "NO Way!"
The last weekend of the month, we relegated his "bobble" (paci) to the bed and made a big deal about him only using it at naps and nighttime. It took a couple of days of distractions and car rides were especially tough, but by day four or five, he was completely fine.
Audrey is still loving reading and all things crafty. She is astounding us not only by the level of reading she does, but how she reads with such great expression and inflection. She doesn't nap anymore except for the occasional snooze once every 7-10 days. Instead, she lies in her bed and reads for about an hour each afternoon. Sometimes she'll work on her Lite Bright, a puzzle, or a maze book, but mostly it's books. She just loves to read.
I'm certain she's not to become a boorish bookworm, because she is also honing her sense of humor. Nothing makes me smile bigger than to hear her giggle uncontrollably. When she and Luke both get going, it's impossible not to join in. Which is great, because she and I with our similar personalities butt heads at least once a day and often need the laugh. (Yeah, yeah. I'm "just waiting" for the teenage years.)
So that was March. And with that update, I'll leave you with some funny quotes from the kids:
- When praying one night, Luke kept stopping, squinting open his eyes and saying, "What's his name?" We offered some suggestions, but couldn't figure out who he was talking about until about five minutes later when we were taking him to bed. He suddenly blurts out, "UNCLE ERIC!", stops to pray for him, and then proceeds to bed.
- While rocking out to the radio on the way home: Luke: "It's too loud." Me: "It's not too loud, buddy." Luke: "It's too loud for ME." Then, AJ pipes up: "Mommy. Remember...empathy."
- On the first day of Luke's "bobble" weaning, he asked for it a lot. We kept repeating he only used it in the bed now, then changing the subject and distracting him. On the way home from the park, he decided he'd had enough. He didn't throw a fit. He didn't whine. He just calmly and plainly said: "Mommy. [deep sigh] I want my bobble." It was too cute. It's like he was saying, "Look, y'all. Enough's enough. You've had your fun, now give it back."
- Audrey is already rehearsing songs for her Pre-K graduation ceremony in May. We've been talking a little about nervous butterflies and stage fright. We discussed things she could tell herself, thoughts she could imagine, and a bible verse to memorize. Knowing that she really hates feeling like all those eyes are on her, I asked "So, what would make you feel more comfortable when all those 'hundreds of eyes' are looking at you?" Without hesitation, she responded, "Uh...Not to have hundreds of eyes looking at me."
- While Luke was eating breakfast, I ran upstairs to get something. I coughed a few times and heard him yell, "Mommy! You okay?" I hollered back, "Yes, Luke. Thank you." and he yelled, "Okay, you welcome!"
- The kids were riding their tricycle and Big Wheel around the park and David and I split up to cover each one. I was up ahead with Audrey when I hear Luke yelling something out to me. He'd gotten off his tricycle to jog after me and David said he kept hollering, "Mommy! Wait! I wuv you!" Oh my heart!
- Audrey really wanted to buckle Luke into his booster seat before lunch one day. Before I could even open my mouth, I hear Luke warn, "Audrey! Be careful! Watch you fingers!"
Don't forget to check out the latest pictures in the gallery:
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Thankful Thursday
Thursday, April 3, 2014
1. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine and the warm temperatures it has brought with it. Hello, Spring!
2. A good two-year check up for Luke. Brag alert - The doctor was so impressed with his vocabulary and social skills. He said there are only a handful of two year olds he sees a month that are as easy and cooperative as Luke and only a handful a year that can follow all of the instructions he gave him (i.e. taking big, deep breaths, lying down on the table, etc.) He was asking Luke about keeping one of the tongue depressors to use in his vet kit I told him we had. The doctor asked about looking in a lion's mouth with it. Luke laughed and said, "NO Way!"
3. "New" clothes. I switched out the kids' wardrobes earlier this week and am in the process of doing mine. I love seeing their cute outfits...and knowing most of them were consignment steals. Their pasty white little elbows and knees are pretty adorable, too.
4. Finishing a huge organization project. I know it's absurd, but I still print photographs and put them into albums. Then, I number the pages and create a table of contents for each album. Well, at least I did until life happened and I fell well behind. I hadn't printed pictures since September and hadn't done the page numbering/tables of contents since right before Luke was born. I also had about 100 pictures I needed to "file" back into albums that used to be in frames/were used as birthday party decorations, etc. It's been one of those projects I never have time for but that nags me often. I decided I really needed to bite the bullet and work on it. Some serious concentration and a few...or a dozen...hours later, I'm all caught back up. Ahhhhh. (For now.)
5. A new planner. Yes, I realize using a paper planner is as antiquated as printing photos, but I can't help it! Mine was running out and I have used Franklin Covey since I worked, but it's just not as practical for me now and costs too much for me to justify spending. One of the ladies in my small group showed me the At-a-Glance one she uses and it was love at first sight. I went out and bought one the next day and am really enjoying using the new format!
A new planner, cleaning out closets, and organizing stuff? What a week - Pinch me. ;)
2. A good two-year check up for Luke. Brag alert - The doctor was so impressed with his vocabulary and social skills. He said there are only a handful of two year olds he sees a month that are as easy and cooperative as Luke and only a handful a year that can follow all of the instructions he gave him (i.e. taking big, deep breaths, lying down on the table, etc.) He was asking Luke about keeping one of the tongue depressors to use in his vet kit I told him we had. The doctor asked about looking in a lion's mouth with it. Luke laughed and said, "NO Way!"
3. "New" clothes. I switched out the kids' wardrobes earlier this week and am in the process of doing mine. I love seeing their cute outfits...and knowing most of them were consignment steals. Their pasty white little elbows and knees are pretty adorable, too.
4. Finishing a huge organization project. I know it's absurd, but I still print photographs and put them into albums. Then, I number the pages and create a table of contents for each album. Well, at least I did until life happened and I fell well behind. I hadn't printed pictures since September and hadn't done the page numbering/tables of contents since right before Luke was born. I also had about 100 pictures I needed to "file" back into albums that used to be in frames/were used as birthday party decorations, etc. It's been one of those projects I never have time for but that nags me often. I decided I really needed to bite the bullet and work on it. Some serious concentration and a few...or a dozen...hours later, I'm all caught back up. Ahhhhh. (For now.)
5. A new planner. Yes, I realize using a paper planner is as antiquated as printing photos, but I can't help it! Mine was running out and I have used Franklin Covey since I worked, but it's just not as practical for me now and costs too much for me to justify spending. One of the ladies in my small group showed me the At-a-Glance one she uses and it was love at first sight. I went out and bought one the next day and am really enjoying using the new format!
A new planner, cleaning out closets, and organizing stuff? What a week - Pinch me. ;)
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Fun Run
Monday, March 24, 2014
This past weekend was my big race - half marathon #3. I had been feeling anxious about it for weeks. I already felt undertrained for the hilly course and losing a week to my UTI didn't help. By the time Saturday night rolled around and we returned home from a neighbor's birthday party, I was almost in downright dread. Then, as David was saying prayers before we put the kids to bed he said something that caused an immediate shift in my outlook. His prayer was simply, "Lord, help Mommy have a good race tomorrow morning. Let her have fun and be safe."
Have fun?
Huh.
Now I know this may blow you Type-B personalities away, but the thought hadn't really occurred to me to have fun. At least, that was not on the list of my top priorities. This was a goal to meet. A thing to check off the list. A finish line to cross...literally. Fun would be great if it happened, but it wasn't part of the deal.
But when he said that, I thought, "Why the heck not?" I realize I'm not going to be first in any of these big races. Of course, good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I won't be last, either. But what is the point of investing so much time and hard work into what is ultimately a hobby if you don't enjoy it? And, truthfully, it's been a while since I've enjoyed running. Instead, it has become a boring habit. It's something I have moments of elatedness during (usually in the last 1/2 mile) and that I certainly am happy with the results of, but the love of it can be hard to find while alone at 6am in the cold and dark.
But this race, I decided, would be fun. I would enjoy it regardless of my performance. As soon as I made up my mind to do that, the pressure lifted and I relaxed....until the next morning, that is.
I popped out of bed at 5am, having gotten a better night's sleep than with my other two halves. I got ready and quietly kissed David goodbye. Heading towards the interstate, I was a good four miles from home when I realized I had left my wallet behind. "No problem," I thought as I turned the car around. "You left in plenty of time. Just go get it and we'll try this again."
Back on the road, I searched the radio for some tunes to wake me up and get me in the spirit. Every single station had djs running their mouths. Every. Single. One. Do you know how hard it is to get in a happy, upbeat mood at 6am when people are talking about legalization of marijuana, gardening tips, and back pain? Yeah.
I finally got off my exit and weaved my way through traffic to a parking deck. I had purchased "Will Call" for packet pick up, so I left my headphones, hydration belt, and GU Gel in the car while I went to go get my bib. I'd go grab my packet, come back and drop off it and the t-shirt, pick up my things, and be ready to go. No sweat.
Alas, there was actually a lot of sweat involved. It would've worked perfectly, except that I was totally unprepared for the distance I had to walk to get to will-call, especially against the flow of thousands of people heading in the opposite direction. Still a block away and without any place to cut over a street, I glanced at my watch. 6:46. I still had to get my packet, hike all the way back to the car, and then back to the starting line madness! There was also the small issue of taking a bathroom break before starting. The lines at the port-a-potties were insane! I knew I wouldn't start right at 7, but I was still in a panic. Maybe I'd get a really late corral. Once I broke free from the crowd and spotted the Will Call booth, I began to run. I grabbed the packet (Corral J? UGG! Not far enough back!) and the too-small shirt and sprinted towards the parking deck. Tears stung in my eyes as the thought of missing the whole thing entered my head. I've worked too hard for too long!
Fun? NO. I am NOT having fun, Lord. HELP!
I rounded the corner and saw a line of completely empty port-a-potties. This is unheard of for a big race. I ducked in and out quickly and continued my run towards the parking deck. I made it back to the car then ran towards the start line area, which had already shifted a lot because of all of the corrals that had started. I was sweating, stressed out, and had already run at least 3/4 mile. I decided to cut over a street and hope it was somewhat close to where I need to be. I squinted for the sign and read the corral. It was J. I calmed my heart and stretched what muscles I could for a minute. I talked myself down. I felt God whisper, "You can do this. I've got you. Don't write it all off before you've even started." I breathed in deep and clicked my watch as my foot hit the start line. Ready or not.
As I turned on Pandora to start, an upbeat Bee Gees song that reminded me of my Dad filled my ears. Then I remembered a text from my Mom that had come in but that I didn't read in the rush. I looked at it and felt her prayers and encouragement. As the crowd began to thin out just enough for me to have some elbow room, I glanced to my left and saw the J. Mack Robinson College of Business building. We were on Georgia State campus and right in the thick of my old stomping grounds. My eyes took in the whole area, new and old. I thought about all of the times I'd walked along that street on my way to and from class. I never would've dreamed that nearly nine years later I'd be running a half marathon down the very same roads. My phone buzzed and I read an encouraging note from my father-in-law. Later, my mother-in-law sent one and, eventually, once he and the kids were awake, fed, and settled, I got one from David too. (They didn't come down to this one due to the threat of bad weather, so the poor guy was doing the morning routine alone. I was lucky he remembered where I was. ) I felt myself ease into my pace and turned on an audiobook. As the city began to wake up and the darkness dissipated, I couldn't deny it: I was having fun.
Every mile or so there were crowds cheering us on with bells, clappers, and posters. Some of my favorites were: "Good job, Random Stranger!", "Worst Parade Ever", "Smile if you've peed a little", "Hill? What hill?!" (to which one runner beside me yelled, "WHAT HILL? THIS HILL. THIS HILL RIGHT HERE!" We all laughed.) There were the usual "If it was easy, everyone would do it" and "The faster you go, the faster you're through!" and "Pain is weakness leaving the body" etc. By far my favorite that made me laugh out loud was "If this was easy, it would be called 'Your Mom'". I know it's incredibly immature, but that one had me laughing for a good 1/4 mile. It just reminded me so much of our group of friends in high school and college who never missed the opportunity for a great "Your Momma" joke.
We entered parts of the city I was less familiar with - Little Five Points, Virginia Highlands - and areas I'd never been in at all - Inman Park, The Carter Center. When we were away from the shelter of buildings, the wind was kind of strong. It blew the blossoms off of the Bradford Pears and it looked like snow falling down. It was beautiful.
I knew mile 9 - 10.5 was the toughest hill-wise and tried to prepare myself for it. We crossed a tiny bridge that offered a gorgeous view of the city and I tried to make a mental note of where we were so I could come back and show David. We made it up a tough hill and entered Piedmont Park. There was a sign and volunteers stationed around telling people where to split for the half marathon vs. the full marathon. For a minute, I thought about taking the right turn. I knew I'd have to walk a lot, but there was no doubt in my mind I could do a full 26.2 miles. It would probably take me well over 5 hours, but I knew I could finish. Then I questioned whether they would even let me in because I was only registered for the half. I also knew that it would probably mean not getting a full marathon medal, and quite frankly, that sealed it for me. There was no way I was going to do my first full marathon and not get a medal for it. I decided to stick with the plan. Maybe one day, but not that day.
We ran through a lot of residential areas and neighborhoods with people outside drinking coffee in their pajamas and cheering for us. We entered Technology Square on Georgia Tech Campus and things became familiar again. As I ran down Techwood Drive I thought about David and all our memories there. I saw the stadium and recalled the many games we'd gone to with friends. It began to rain, but not hard. I climbed the hill up North Avenue to Tech Parkway and a gigantic inflatable Buzz greeted us with groups of Tech students around giving out oranges and water. I was in the home stretch and I knew it. I kicked it up, passed the 12 mile marker, and kicked it up again. I knew because of all of the hills that I wasn't going to set a PR like I did on the extremely flat Thanksgiving Day half, but I still had a chance to beat my first half's time. The cheering crowds thickened around me and I pushed harder. I found one of my go-to songs, cranked it up, and ran until I thought my heart would burst.
I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch. 2 hours 29 minutes and 2 seconds. Not my best time (2 hrs 22 min 35 sec) but not my slowest...barely (2 hrs 29 min 20 seconds). The hills were tough, but they weren't unbeatable. I'd managed to run every step of them. The best part? It was by far the most fun of the three halves I'd done. The course was a great run down...and up....memory lane, but more than that, my soul was refreshed. I'd fallen in love with running again. My mind had been focused right where it should've been: Enjoying the gifts of health and ability that God gave me and the beauty of my surroundings - human and otherwise.
I let it sink in that I'd just run 13.1 miles. Again. And in the end I'd had a great time and still met my goal. Who knew? :)
Have fun?
Huh.
Now I know this may blow you Type-B personalities away, but the thought hadn't really occurred to me to have fun. At least, that was not on the list of my top priorities. This was a goal to meet. A thing to check off the list. A finish line to cross...literally. Fun would be great if it happened, but it wasn't part of the deal.
But when he said that, I thought, "Why the heck not?" I realize I'm not going to be first in any of these big races. Of course, good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I won't be last, either. But what is the point of investing so much time and hard work into what is ultimately a hobby if you don't enjoy it? And, truthfully, it's been a while since I've enjoyed running. Instead, it has become a boring habit. It's something I have moments of elatedness during (usually in the last 1/2 mile) and that I certainly am happy with the results of, but the love of it can be hard to find while alone at 6am in the cold and dark.
But this race, I decided, would be fun. I would enjoy it regardless of my performance. As soon as I made up my mind to do that, the pressure lifted and I relaxed....until the next morning, that is.
I popped out of bed at 5am, having gotten a better night's sleep than with my other two halves. I got ready and quietly kissed David goodbye. Heading towards the interstate, I was a good four miles from home when I realized I had left my wallet behind. "No problem," I thought as I turned the car around. "You left in plenty of time. Just go get it and we'll try this again."
Back on the road, I searched the radio for some tunes to wake me up and get me in the spirit. Every single station had djs running their mouths. Every. Single. One. Do you know how hard it is to get in a happy, upbeat mood at 6am when people are talking about legalization of marijuana, gardening tips, and back pain? Yeah.
I finally got off my exit and weaved my way through traffic to a parking deck. I had purchased "Will Call" for packet pick up, so I left my headphones, hydration belt, and GU Gel in the car while I went to go get my bib. I'd go grab my packet, come back and drop off it and the t-shirt, pick up my things, and be ready to go. No sweat.
Alas, there was actually a lot of sweat involved. It would've worked perfectly, except that I was totally unprepared for the distance I had to walk to get to will-call, especially against the flow of thousands of people heading in the opposite direction. Still a block away and without any place to cut over a street, I glanced at my watch. 6:46. I still had to get my packet, hike all the way back to the car, and then back to the starting line madness! There was also the small issue of taking a bathroom break before starting. The lines at the port-a-potties were insane! I knew I wouldn't start right at 7, but I was still in a panic. Maybe I'd get a really late corral. Once I broke free from the crowd and spotted the Will Call booth, I began to run. I grabbed the packet (Corral J? UGG! Not far enough back!) and the too-small shirt and sprinted towards the parking deck. Tears stung in my eyes as the thought of missing the whole thing entered my head. I've worked too hard for too long!
Fun? NO. I am NOT having fun, Lord. HELP!
I rounded the corner and saw a line of completely empty port-a-potties. This is unheard of for a big race. I ducked in and out quickly and continued my run towards the parking deck. I made it back to the car then ran towards the start line area, which had already shifted a lot because of all of the corrals that had started. I was sweating, stressed out, and had already run at least 3/4 mile. I decided to cut over a street and hope it was somewhat close to where I need to be. I squinted for the sign and read the corral. It was J. I calmed my heart and stretched what muscles I could for a minute. I talked myself down. I felt God whisper, "You can do this. I've got you. Don't write it all off before you've even started." I breathed in deep and clicked my watch as my foot hit the start line. Ready or not.
As I turned on Pandora to start, an upbeat Bee Gees song that reminded me of my Dad filled my ears. Then I remembered a text from my Mom that had come in but that I didn't read in the rush. I looked at it and felt her prayers and encouragement. As the crowd began to thin out just enough for me to have some elbow room, I glanced to my left and saw the J. Mack Robinson College of Business building. We were on Georgia State campus and right in the thick of my old stomping grounds. My eyes took in the whole area, new and old. I thought about all of the times I'd walked along that street on my way to and from class. I never would've dreamed that nearly nine years later I'd be running a half marathon down the very same roads. My phone buzzed and I read an encouraging note from my father-in-law. Later, my mother-in-law sent one and, eventually, once he and the kids were awake, fed, and settled, I got one from David too. (They didn't come down to this one due to the threat of bad weather, so the poor guy was doing the morning routine alone. I was lucky he remembered where I was. ) I felt myself ease into my pace and turned on an audiobook. As the city began to wake up and the darkness dissipated, I couldn't deny it: I was having fun.
Every mile or so there were crowds cheering us on with bells, clappers, and posters. Some of my favorites were: "Good job, Random Stranger!", "Worst Parade Ever", "Smile if you've peed a little", "Hill? What hill?!" (to which one runner beside me yelled, "WHAT HILL? THIS HILL. THIS HILL RIGHT HERE!" We all laughed.) There were the usual "If it was easy, everyone would do it" and "The faster you go, the faster you're through!" and "Pain is weakness leaving the body" etc. By far my favorite that made me laugh out loud was "If this was easy, it would be called 'Your Mom'". I know it's incredibly immature, but that one had me laughing for a good 1/4 mile. It just reminded me so much of our group of friends in high school and college who never missed the opportunity for a great "Your Momma" joke.
We entered parts of the city I was less familiar with - Little Five Points, Virginia Highlands - and areas I'd never been in at all - Inman Park, The Carter Center. When we were away from the shelter of buildings, the wind was kind of strong. It blew the blossoms off of the Bradford Pears and it looked like snow falling down. It was beautiful.
I knew mile 9 - 10.5 was the toughest hill-wise and tried to prepare myself for it. We crossed a tiny bridge that offered a gorgeous view of the city and I tried to make a mental note of where we were so I could come back and show David. We made it up a tough hill and entered Piedmont Park. There was a sign and volunteers stationed around telling people where to split for the half marathon vs. the full marathon. For a minute, I thought about taking the right turn. I knew I'd have to walk a lot, but there was no doubt in my mind I could do a full 26.2 miles. It would probably take me well over 5 hours, but I knew I could finish. Then I questioned whether they would even let me in because I was only registered for the half. I also knew that it would probably mean not getting a full marathon medal, and quite frankly, that sealed it for me. There was no way I was going to do my first full marathon and not get a medal for it. I decided to stick with the plan. Maybe one day, but not that day.
We ran through a lot of residential areas and neighborhoods with people outside drinking coffee in their pajamas and cheering for us. We entered Technology Square on Georgia Tech Campus and things became familiar again. As I ran down Techwood Drive I thought about David and all our memories there. I saw the stadium and recalled the many games we'd gone to with friends. It began to rain, but not hard. I climbed the hill up North Avenue to Tech Parkway and a gigantic inflatable Buzz greeted us with groups of Tech students around giving out oranges and water. I was in the home stretch and I knew it. I kicked it up, passed the 12 mile marker, and kicked it up again. I knew because of all of the hills that I wasn't going to set a PR like I did on the extremely flat Thanksgiving Day half, but I still had a chance to beat my first half's time. The cheering crowds thickened around me and I pushed harder. I found one of my go-to songs, cranked it up, and ran until I thought my heart would burst.
I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch. 2 hours 29 minutes and 2 seconds. Not my best time (2 hrs 22 min 35 sec) but not my slowest...barely (2 hrs 29 min 20 seconds). The hills were tough, but they weren't unbeatable. I'd managed to run every step of them. The best part? It was by far the most fun of the three halves I'd done. The course was a great run down...and up....memory lane, but more than that, my soul was refreshed. I'd fallen in love with running again. My mind had been focused right where it should've been: Enjoying the gifts of health and ability that God gave me and the beauty of my surroundings - human and otherwise.
I let it sink in that I'd just run 13.1 miles. Again. And in the end I'd had a great time and still met my goal. Who knew? :)
Ecstatic to be finished.
My sweet notes and drawings from my favorite cheerleaders. The picture on the left is Audrey and I running up a hill (I'd told her I was nervous about the course) and the one on the far right says: "Get out and do it, Mommy. You can do it. Love Audrey, Luke, Daddy."
Done, Baby Girl.
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