Lexie at 4

On the 28th we celebrated Lex's 4th birthday. Where does the time go? So here is my little dollface at 4.
Lexie at four:
favorite song: Catch a Falling Star, Did You Say Your Prayers Last Night
favorite color: pink and red (red to be like me, how flattering)
favorite food: fries, most fruits and veggies,
favorite music: Upside Down, Jack Johnson
Favorite activities: Playing with siblings, puzzles, movies
Lexie loves all things girly: purses, lipstick shoes, my high heals, she loves to open presents and she gets so excited it is fun to give her presents. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said some make-up. My mom sent her the movie Cinderella and when we turned it on to watch she ran to her room and came back out in her Cinderella a dress up and shoes, before she was ready to start. She loves to sing but is not going to have a career in this area. I love this little girl to pieces and fear a little for her as she is just like her mother. I love you Lexie happy 4th birthday!

I know I am biased being her mother and all, but I think she is gorgeous and has stellar eyebrows. I love how excited you get and how animated you are with your hands and eyes. When Lexie is sweet there is nothing sweeter, and when she is naughty she can do that real well as well. Keep acting "pretty" Lex, pretty is as pretty does. We love you and are so grateful for the blessing you are to our family.

Crickets and Heart attacks

I have this memory of Jess when we were kids. I distinctly remember one Sunday before church when Jess had a freak out session over a cricket. She must have been around Elevenish because it was when her room was the "toy room" downstairs. This room has been a variety of things over the years and for awhile after Michael was born it was Jess's room. Anyhow there was a cricket in her room on the floor and she bawled and carried on for like a half and hour. She stayed on top of her bed because the cricket was on the floor blocking her way to the door. I remember Jason and I being a bit mean in retrospect, as we made fun and light of her situation.
Well I had my own freak out session today with a cricket. It wasn't a complete freak out. just a scream you would her upon stumbling upon a murder scene or the likes. Back to my story. I was determined to get on top of my laundry today. Well I sorted the clothes. and as I moved a pile over which had been in the room for a few days, a cricket jumps out. Of course I scream and jump and just about die because well I know he is still in here amongst my sorted laundry. He is going to rear his ugly head again and I'm shaking just thinking about it. Is this a rational amount of fear over a bug for a grown women? I could handle it better if the suckers didn't jump. Well when it was time for the next load to go in I summon the courage to tackle the pile I think he is hiding in. OUT he jumps, as I transfer clothes to the washer. We go through the whole routine again, the girls come running to see why mom is screaming, and to check out the cricket. Well this time I got him. I stomped him. Luckily I had shoes on. Phew after the 2nd load cricket crisis resolved. Not so fast, I didn't have the ability to pick him up at that time and transfer him to the garbage, I would tackle that at the next load. Low and behold crickets are like cats in that they have nine lives. I swear I stomped him at least five times. If you didn't catch it, the cricket was gone. I checked with Lexie, my not quite 4 year old, to see if she disposed of the bug, or rather hoping she had. No such luck. She informed me she had gone to stomp on him and he was gone. Gratefully at this time Jeremy arrived home from work, and sought the cricket out and got him. He almost threw him in the garbage inside my laundry room, gratefully I caught him and sent him outside with the wretched cricket. I know, not rational. But you should know, my cricket equated to a quarter in size and Jess's was only dime sized. I think she has transferred her fear to me. This is also one of the reasons I haven't gotten into gardening yet here. Fear of bugs. They really are huge here. Well luckily the cricket is gone and although the day is coming to a close I'm going to finish my laundry yet!

Fall=Home

So Sunday (9/12) after church Andrew wanted to put out the fall decorations. I remember doing this as a kid and always loved it. So we pulled out the fall and Halloween stuff and got the house looking all festive. I need a few more, as it seems there are not enough decorations to go around. Do you have fond memories of pulling out the decorations as a kid? It made me think about that even though I'm not "home" , home is where you are. A quote I've heard a lot lately, I read it on a blog somewhere, my dad said it to me, and it was in the movie Julie and Julia. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. So thanks to my little Andrew for wanting to do the fun things that make a house a home, and for being the first person I see when I get home. (He is always the first to greet me and is oh so excited to see me.) I love you buddy!

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Does anyone no where over the Rainbow is? I am looking for the place where, "trouble melts like lemon drops." If anyone has directions I am looking. Gotta love that song, just listening to it makes life's burdens easier, don't ya think?

Never Fear Raili is Here!!

So We made it to see Julie and Julia. It spoke to me; I knew it would. Jeremy liked it ok, a little long for him. Gratefully part of it was in France, where he served his mission, and it was about cooking, something he enjoys. But back to the purpose of the post. Raili is my sitter, she came over Saturday night so we could go out. She is 25ish, I can't remember if she is 24 or 26, irrelevant, mid twenties. I have decided this is the perfect age for a childcare person. She is not encumbered with a family of her own, not that is an encumberment, just meaning she has a lot of freedom with her time. She is living in Texas helping her parents sell a house, they have already moved on, back east somewhere. So I knew upon using her it would not be permanent. As much as I struggle leaving my kids, and believe me or ask my family, it is a struggle for me, I find comfort in knowing they are with Raili. She is kind, sweet, dependable, and in her own words, "tries to do things the way I would do them." What any mother wants when she leaves her children. I feel like she loves my kids. She is has more patience than I do, so my kids may even prefer her to me. She is a little more nervous than I am, but hey in someone watching over your family this is not a bad trait. I am grateful for her and thankful to have found her. We will miss her when she moves on. Thank you Raili for all you do for me and my family! We hope you will be here many months yet, but wish you the best of luck and all of life's blessing to be yours.

Missing Home!

my house Dec 2006 dosen't she look great in Chritmas lights

I love lists so I thought I'd write one of all I am missing at home. I know I need to embrace where I am, but just for today I am going to miss home. It is rainy and dreary a movie day at my house, and so I am going to list what I miss about home:

1. The Cleverly's. They are my amazing neighbors whom we love. I miss them. Borrowing ingredients, talking with Meghan, making cards at Shauna's house. It is the type of home which embodies the word HOME. You can feel the love, life, work, all that takes place there. It is were the neighbor kids gather, and I think everyone thinks Shauna is there best friend because she is just that type of person. Everyone loves her and she seems to love everyone, what a gift. So I miss the Cleverly's.
2. I miss the seasons, I find myself wondering about the leaves changing colors. I picture the mountains, driving up Oak lane the street I grew up on. I can feel the crispness in the air, and can picture my mother busy at work picking peaches, what she was doing when she called this morning. If I only worked as hard as my mother. I miss my house and yard. For some reason, I guess cause this isn't my house the yard here is just not mine. I miss digging in the soil and making my yard beautiful. I really have missed that this summer.
3. My big Garage with the painted floor. It is a nice garage.
4. I miss the park three houses away from my house. I could see it from the deck and the kids loved playing there. I just really want to come back. I know I just left and we won't be coming back right away but like I said for today I'm wishing I was there.
5. My old job. I complained plenty about it, part of that is health care. If I could only go back to it now. The physicians were excellent, they did a good job and manged there patients well. I miss the people I worked with, and miss feeling like a valued member of the team. When I make it back I won't take that for granted ever again, or if I find it here. I'm looking.
6. Seeing my family on a regular basis. It makes me a little sad when I call and they are all together for a birthday or Sunday dinner or something.
7. Jeremy misses the hills to bike on.
8. The dry air. Humidity is rough. Well I am going to pay attention to my kids, get lost in a book and enjoy the rest of the day I hope all ya'll do the same!

LAME!

So earlier today I was loving the beauty of texting. Now not as much. Earlier this summer I met a cute high school gal at the local pool. She introduced herself played with my kids gave me her info for babysitting. Great, one can never have to many sitter contacts. She told me to just text her. I guess that is what kids do these days and I'm really new to it as of this summer. I will say it is kind of cool and convenient. So today I text her around nineish. I have great plans for a date night. The movie Julie and Julia. Perfect right? Or maybe better for a GNO but I have no girls here. She text's me and says great, we'll be in touch after school. Well come 4:45p.m. I get a text saying not sure if I can do it anymore. See I think if she had to call and talk with me it wouldn't have been as easy to bale on me. I didn't get the official bale until a few minutes after six and the plan was for 6:30. Now, I'm not completely niave had already figuered this is where we were headed. But, really could she have just said no in the first place so I could move on to plan B. Cause now it is too late and date night is ruined. She finally texted and said she was grounded. What do you think, really grounded or hanging out with friends at the Friday night lights football game, this is Texas. Benefit of the doubt or never call her again what do you say? I thought it was L-A-M-E-O.

Motherhood Triumphs

HOT OFF THE PRESS:
only moments ago I heard the toilet flush. Followed by Anna coming out saying, "poop gross" repeated a few times.
I only hoped it could be true! After checking for evidence it is true. She did it and with no help from me. Lately she strips off her clothes all the time or wants her diaper changed the moment she is wet. I will keep my fingers crossed that it will continue and she will potty train herself. I deserve that after trying to train Andrew. He just stopped regularly peeing his pants about a week before school started and he is 5 this = tons of laundry. The other best part is I texted everyone I know and numbers for in my phone my JOY! Isn't it funny the things that bring joy. Technology is amazing and a baby that might potty train herself four days after turning two is even better!! Here's hoping!

Texas Venacular

So it may be time to come home. I have noticed the more I'm around the native Texans (mostly at work), the more the venacular is slipping into my mind. The main thoughts creeping in are Fix'n to and Ya'll. I'm tellin ya, everyone here is fix'n to do something and wondering when ya'll are going to do this or that. There is also a fair amount of "sweetie", "honey" and such terms, slathered with the sweet southern belle accent. My sister Nicole told me, when she was in Kentucky, she was at work and said,"can ya'll come to Mr. Potts (made up, no Hippa violation) room for lifting help. Followed by, "and now it is time for me to move home." So after just a few short months the phrases are slipping into my mind. How much longer until I actually use them? I think it is kind of cute when the Texans do it, but I'm not ready to start myself.

Sick Day

Monday night Andrew said to me, "Mom, I can't go to school tomorrow, I'm sick and I'll get all the other kids sick." Tonight he said, "Mom in the morning I'll be sick so I can't go to school." I'm just wondering, isn't 5 a little young to be starting this? At least he is smart, right?

What I know for sure...

Andrew and Lexie July '09

• Things are never as hard as we make them. Projects: getting a cupboard, drawer, or garage organized, a bad day at work, a real messy house. Things are really never as bad as we perceive them. Now if I can remember this in the moments of, "it can only get better."
• While I think having a clean house is ultra important, it is probably not as important as the emphasis I give it in my mind.
• My kids are beautiful and my greatest blessing
• Things are just things, but sometimes there are some things I want real bad
• I cook better than most places I eat out at. Maybe that says something about the restaurants I'm going to.
• Cherry Limeades from Sonic are delicious. Sonic is BIG in Texas
• The gospel of Jesus Christ is true
• I left some of the greatest people in the world to work with, at IMC Labor and Delivery, and LDSH Labor and Delivery, and I miss you all.
• We ALL make mistakes. It is important to learn from them, not dwell on them.
• Good Health is a great blessing. We should do all we can to preserve our good health. Something I need to work on as I have been on a big junk food kick lately, and have no regular exercise program to speak of. The Texas heat has got the better of me.