Movie Night

Another busy week with school and practice. On Wed. we met with Christy and the kids over in Exeter, got to see her in-laws restaurant. Then we had girl scouts, where they made paper, Leslie really likes the way it came out. I would really like to do it again and try getting some fun colors!

Thursday we had classes out at school and just got to hang out there all day. Went for a quick walk with a few moms, trying to get Luke to sleep, but no luck. He is almost ready to not take a nap anymore but can't quite make it all day, so he falls asleep in the car. I let him sleep for a while when he did but I don't want him sleeping so long that he won't sleep at night. I remember this being a hard stage with Leslie, hope it doesn't last to long!

Tonight we had one of our favorite dinners,Orange Chicken, Noodles and Pot Stickers. Leslie would eat this every night if she could. I love being able to recreate take out food at home so it doesn't get to boring, not eating out. After dinner we decided to go and get a tub of ice cream and cones, at the store, then watched Meet the Robinsons. Who needs Panda Express, Cold Stone, and the movie theather! A fun night just being together as a family!

Catching up

So, I haven't been able to get time to blog for a while, and not to much to report or share. We had our first week with Wednesday and Thursday in town. Wow, it is going to be a long couple of months! It is not so bad on Thurs because we have the school to be at most of the day. However, I think I need to find something for us to do on Wed., cause it is a long day just waiting around. I don't think it will be as bad when the weather is nicer, we can find a good park a hang out there most of the day, but when it is over 90 degrees, the park is not so fun!

Luke had a play date with Ethan on Thurs of course Liam and I joined too! It was fun, but Christy and I both agreed that we need to do things a bit earlier, cause nap time came along and it wasn't so fun any more!

Liam is starting to talk a lot more, he is now saying eyes, nose, shoes, brother, sister, ect.. Of course it is mostly just our family who would understand! He is so neat in the way he communicates, I think he is the kid I have most understood so far, hooray for experience!

Leslie is enjoying her school and the TCOE stuff. She got done with the 4th grade math I was making her do and is very happy to be officially doing 5th grade math! It is funny how that matters to her at this age, it is all just math to me!

The kids drove me nuts today, mostly just my mood, but Leslie and Luke were especially naughty tonight when we were playing outside. Apparently, Luke said lets throw garbage at mommy, to Leslie. So they got some plastic bottles from recycling and tossed them at me. I didn't really pay attention but told them to pick it up and put it back. Then I got hit it the back of the neck by a ball and turn to see Luke running away. After a time out on the steps for Luke I found out that Leslie had told him to do it. So they both spent the rest of the evening in their rooms! I just am amazed at how awful a day can be! At bed time I talked to both of them and let them know that I am not mad anymore but will not tolerate that kind of behavior! It is kind of funny that they would do something like that together and maybe if I was not in a grumpy mood I would not have cared as much. Well I will try and let the day be what it was and start again tomorrow

First Day of Classes

So yesterday was the first day of classes for Leslie out at the Charter school. She is so happy to back there, seeing her friends and doing fun stuff. Kenny came with us and we didn't see her almost all day. Kenny really did most of the playing with the boys and my best friend's little guy, while I was doing the booster club meeting. It was great to see them have so much time together. After school we went to the farmers market and got some yummy food and some snow cones with real OJ on them, a great idea from a friend. Luke and Liam got to bounce in a bounce house and we also went to look at strollers. I love it when we have a low key day like that where we aren't going from store to store but we still get to do some fun stuff

Today was crazy! Luke had all sorts of energy and I had a hard time keeping up with him. He had to spend some time in his room because I was having such a hard time not yelling at him! Liam was of course encouraged by Luke's energy and was pretty busy himself, my favorite part was reading him a Pat the bunny book that he was getting such a kick out of. I had to read it about 10 times in a row, but he was giggling the whole time! Such joy in a little ones laugh! So after a bath, snack and some nursing, all is quiet and peaceful now. Ahhhh, the joy of parenting! At least I never get bored!

A First for Luke

Today was quiet until the afternoon, Leslie had TCOE practice and we got there just in time. After we dropped Leslie off we decided to take Luke over to a gymnastic place close by to see about a class for him to take while Leslie is at practice. So they offered for him to take part in the class that was going to start right then for his age. It was so fun, cute and interesting to watch him do the class. He doesn't understand instruction very well at first but once he does he listens really well. I also saw how strong he is, he was pulling himself up at the bar and when he got to swing on the rings he stayed on a long time, before getting to drop into the foam pit underneath. He loved the class and cried when it was time to go, so I would really like to see him do something like this. I think we will look at some other options for that kind of thing around town and then choose. I love watching my kids take instruction from other people, I guess being removed from the moment makes me realize what great kids I have!

A Tuesday

Nothing to exciting today. Kenny took the kids to the library and Luke got his first library card and some books and a movie, Toy Story 2. Such a cute movie! Not much else to report, a quiet evening and now it's time to get ready for bed.

Labor Day weekend

Had a great weekend with family and friends. Sunday was our long day in town, but we did a lot to keep us busy. We started with some donuts from Scotty's, oh so yummy, went to a great little park to eat and play, then on to church. After church, we met up with Christy and her little ones Ethan and Erin. Kids had fun playing in the water and on the playground. Had to talk to Luke about hitting Ethan, which is such a hard thing to handle sometimes. You never know how another mom might handle something like that until it happens and you work through it. Christy was great about it, and I explained to Luke why we don't hit and took him over to apologize to Ethan. Of course a few minutes later they were happily playing together, I love that about most kids, just in the moment! After that we did our shopping for the week, which Leslie absolutely hates! She does like to eat though so she manages to make it through!

Today, Monday, the kids built a fort with blankets and chairs and had a great time. I got this picture of Leslie reading to Luke and Liam. It melts my heart when I see these moments between them and I hope they never end!
Later on after Leslie did some school work, very reluctantly, cause after all it is a holiday mom!, we had some yummy ribs for dinner and than went out side to play. Kenny was home so he joined us and we had a fun time playing Freeze Tag with the kids. I of course smoked Kenny at the game! lol I really love it when we can all be so silly as a family!

Another Good Day

Had a very slow start to the day, I feel like this cold just won't go away. So the boys watched a little to much T.V. for my liking. The kids played really well again today, I am noticing that with my attitude change I am seeing the change with the kids too. Luke and Liam helped make dinner, waffles with real maple syrup. Leslie and I put on chocolate chips and some whipped cream for a fun little treat! Definitely not good for the weight loss but very yummy and fun! After some time outside playing soccer, doing some chalk out lines of the kids, digging in the sand box and eating some pomegranates, we came in for a bath. While I was running the water I went to go and get towels and when I came back I found Liam standing in the water with his close on!

I am just figuring out how to put the pictures in the post, so much fun! Well that is all for today, Good night!

Good Playing Day

We had a good day today. The kids played really well together. Leslie is getting better at working with Luke to get things going in the direction she wants instead of just getting frustrated and giving up. We played outside after dinner and then all 3 had a bath together, however Leslie has started wearing a bathing suit when she gets in with them. She is definitely becoming more modest. It is weird seeing that change but I'm glad cause maybe I can get more privacy now! :oD

I hope Liam has an easier time sleeping tonight. He is getting all 4 of his eye teeth right now, and that did not make for a very peaceful night sleep. He is still so happy during the day though. His favorite things to say right now are "Yay" and "Hi". His smile is just so joyful these days, it melts my heart.

As for Luke, he is all about make believe play right now. It is so funny to play with him because one minute you are a dog and the next you are a super hero! He is growing up, and I sometimes have to remind myself that he is still 3.

I just love my kids! They may keep me busy but it really is what I always wanted to do! Even if it looks nothing like I thought it would!

One step back

Another long and busy day. I am not very happy with how I handled the stress of the baby not wanting to go to sleep, after 2 hours of trying! I was snappy with Kenny and Leslie, and not very happy with Liam either. Just frustrating when I am trying so hard to change. Yes, I know change doesn't happen overnight but I want it to! I will work on my communication skills so that I can ask for help without sounding snippy. Now I just need to go and get so sleep!

And So It Starts

It Feels like we started our new routine today. Leslie had her first rehearsal for the musical Honk Jr. that TCOE (that is Tulare County Office of Education) is putting on this semester. It will be ruling our life for the next 3 months, but Leslie just loves it. Leslie loves all things music, dance, and singing, so I am really happy she gets to do this. She also had to get new jazz shoes and takes an adult size 8, wow! She is now just 3-4 inch shorter then me! I hope she is taller than I am when all is said and done. I did my growing early and then stopped so I hope she keeps on going, so much easier to find a good pair of jeans when you have some height!

So while Leslie was at her rehearsal for 2 hours we did a quick run to the grocery store and then went to Toys R Us so Luke could look at toys, which is something he has been asking to do daily these days! I really hope this is just a stage! It is so hard for him to go and look and not get anything, but he loves to do it. I guess we will just keep it to a minimum and use it as a life lesson. Liam really enjoyed getting in the big cars and making car noises, and Luke spent his time with the Transformers.

So then it was time to go and get Leslie, and than dinner. Had to eat in town cause it was already after 6 and most of our family can't go past about 6:30 without eating. Really all of us but Kenny start to lose it when we don't eat on time! So it was McD's for dinner, although we chose stuff recommended from Eat This, Not That, a book that I love using, so it wasn't to bad.

Overall a good day, my highlights were, getting some exercise, being able to let Leslie do something she loves, Luke telling Kenny that he was the best driver in the world, Luke telling me that I was the best teeth brusher in the world, and just seeing Liam's smile!

The Beginning

I am finally starting something I have wanted to do for years! A Blog, a Journal, call it what you will, it is my thoughts, feelings, highs and lows all in one place. I am starting this now because of a shocking event that just recently happened. A new friend of 2 little girls was killed in a car accident, in an intersection that I travel through every time I go into town.

I met her at the beginning of this summer at a La Leche League meeting that I run once a month. She had just moved here because of divorce and she was staying with her parents while getting back on her feet. Emily, and her 2 girls, Ava and Audry were friends almost instantly. We had a few big things in common. We both were tandem nursing, the kids being pretty close to the same ages, which is not very common, and I had lived with my in-laws for 9 years and know the joys and challenges of parenting in a multi-generational home.

So, the other mom at the meeting, Christy, and I invited her to join the local AP (attachment parenting) group so she could meet more moms. We would send an invite and get her connected. Well, of course things are always busy when you have kids and neither of us got it sent out. I felt so bad, I always do when I forget something like that, but when I did remember I couldn't find her info! When I saw her at the meeting the next month I told her how sorry I was and got the info again. She was so sweet about it. I got it sent that night so I wouldn't forget this time (lesson learned)! Now she was connected to some other moms and I hoped that she would find some good friends, me included.

I think it was about then that I started to go to town with my husband on Sundays and drop him at work so we could have the car and be able to go to church. That meant that we would be in town for about 12 hours. We needed things to do. I thought of Emily, I had told her that I come to town sometimes and have lots of time to play, so we could get together. I let her know and we planned to get together.

That Sunday at the park was so fun! The park we met at has a water play area with jets of water for the kids to play in, and it was great to watch our kids play together, along with Katie and her 3 little ones. We shared snacks, we talked and we tried to stay cool! When the little ones were all tuckered out we packed it in and talked of doing it again the next week. I was so happy we had finally gotten together outside of LLL.

Sadly that was the first and last time we would get to do it. The following week she past away. I didn't even know for about a week and a half. I posted about the park for that next Sunday, but when I got there no one was there. I just thought, maybe the girls are sick or she is too busy this week, we will see her soon. The news of her passing has rocked me to my core!

I don't know why exactly. Maybe because I feel like I didn't get to know her enough, because I was too slow to reach out and invite her to get together, because her girls are still nursing like my boys and I can't imagine what they would feel if I were gone, how would they go to sleep, who would be with my kids all day if it wasn't me, or maybe even the fact that I lost my mom when I was just 14 and I know some of the things the girls will go through! I guess I feel some what silly for being so attached to someone that I had not known for very long. However, she was a great person and she will be so missed be me, my heart is very hurt and sad.

All this brings me to the point I am at, a great desire to make something positive from this big negative. I am already a change person from this, but I want to become the mom I have been trying to be for 10 years. It has reawakened the fact that nothing is a given, God's plan is not known to us, and we won't have that chance to say the last "I love you" or give that last kiss, or even take back the mean things we said. I feel like I want to make each day, even each moment with my kids and husband a great one. So even if it is the last, I pray it will be one of laughter, smiles, and great times, and not to be about the little bothersome things that usually make me grumpy. Toys all over the floor, an attitude from the preteen girl, or dog pee on the carpet, they just don't matter! Of course they have to be dealt with, but I have this habit of letting them stick with me for the rest of the day, just ask the husband who leaves the paper spread all over the living room! I just feel this new determination to make these days fun and happy, with the amazing people, little and grown, that I have been blessed with.

It is not just because I might not be here tomorrow, but also because the little part of them, most surely, will not be around for long. Leslie is 10 already (which makes me feel old) and about half of our time living in the same house (give or take a few years) is gone already! It is truly what those grandma ladies always say when you talk to them at the store or waiting in line, "it goes so fast". It can feel like I have been a parent forever, but also there are times when I feel like a newbie and that I just got started with all this!

So here I am blogging this. What, you might say, does blogging have to do with a friend's passing? Well, I feel like I need to keep some sort of written journal, so that when I am old and gray, God willing, I can look back at these times with my children and grandchildren, and laugh at the fun things, cry at the sad things, and let them remember where they come from. The little things in life make us who we are. The things we will do together, yummy cookies we make, the cool craft project, or the dance party started by Leslie, that lasted all evening and ended in the dark with glow sticks, rave style, are things I want my kids to have memories of. I just not make it to be old and gray so having it written down is my way of still being here even if I am not.

I know I would love having my moms memories written down somewhere, so that those times I need her most, I could go and have some piece of her personality, some sense of who she was.
So I do this for my Kids and in honor of Emily and her precious Baby girls, I know they would have wanted something like this from their Mommy.