My own little trail of tears

I started down that trail over 7 years ago and I don't expect to find the end for years to come!

My two big babies started school yesterday.



No real tears, just amazement at how we got this far.

She will explore 2nd grade this year.



He is ready to conquer his kindergarten class.


(If you are thinking how cute he looks with his new haircut, I am sure he would be happy to do something similar for you if you ask. Yes, he took a chunk out of his "bangs" on Sunday night. Thank goodness for hair gel and the popular spike do!!)

Or as his teacher called it, "advanced pre-k" for those that have difficulty talking about their child doing kindergarten twice. BTW, I am not that person. "Red-shirting" as I have recently come to hear it called is exactly what many of our kids needs. They certainly don't need to be hurried any faster than they already are!

I am excited for them both.

She got another great teacher this year. I know her year will be full of challenges, but I know she will be successful beyond what we can even imagine.

This is going to be such a growing year for him, in so many positive ways. Because the class is a true kindergarten, there will be lots of learning going on. Best of all, Jesus is smack in the middle of all the learning! It is woven into the curriculum throughout the year. Oh what I wouldn't do to have that for my children throughout their academic years! I love that his teacher is passionate about learning, loves those kids, and is consistent! The woman has 9 boys in her class in addition to the 5 girls, she has to be consistent! My son needs that!! She met with 3 students/families at a time for 30 minutes at "open house" so she would have time to talk to everyone, go over how her class runs, and answer any questions. Love it!

Wanna know what did make me tear up a bit?

When she told us that the children would rotate as leader of the day. As leader of the day, Ms. C and her class pray for that child AND his or her family by name. She just wanted us to know that every 14 days, we would be prayed for individually.

*Sniff*

So, dropping the kids off yesterday was more about excitement.

Excited for them.

And oh so excited for me!

Details about that another time.

Today.

Not so much excitement.

And likely some tears.

Which is exactly why I will save my make-up routine for my drive to work.

After the drop-off.

I have to be away from my sweet, precious, happy, did I say precious?, little baby ALL day.

Cue knife-in-the-heart scene.

While I know he is going to be in some very loving hands, it still breaks my heart in a few little pieces.


See why?

So yes, there will be tears today.

Y'all might want to bring a paddle on your way out.

Stacey

**Update**Obviously, this already happened and I am just updating to add the pictures and to say that I survived. The report was that my baby was just perfect all day long. Of course! :)

It's all swirling in my head, but

I wish it was in a glass!

Fruity and frozen, preferably!!

So, I will be back this week, but I don't even have the energy right now to do a bullet catch-up.

I am prepping this on Sunday night which probably explains my exhaustion!

I have designated this week as my catch-up-with-life week (for me!) and get-used-to-new-routines week (for our family!). After that, watch out, cuz mama is getting serious!

Seriously, it will probably take me more like two weeks to catch up but I am still going to put on my tyrant hat with this routine stuff.

It was good to take the pressure off myself here for a few weeks, but it feels good to be back.

Missed thinking out loud!

Stacey

Take me out to the ballgame

We had a family post-birthday celebration for L last Friday and Saturday.

We headed to Arlington so Daddy and the kids could take in a Texas Ranger's baseball game. The kids had been preparing for a month. Watching games on TV, learning about scoreboards, getting to know the players. L's favorite is David Murphy!

We headed out Friday, after my fun fast food experience. It was smooth sailing until I asked if Daddy got the tickets. After we were well on the road, of course! Later than we hoped, but we still managed to make it to the hotel in time for the kids to swim for about an hour before leaving for the game.

Here they are getting ready to leave for the game.

Daddy said that L never took that glove off his hand in hopes of catching a ball.


I was pretty bummed because our hotel TV did not show the game! B and I were all set to see them on TV! They watched most of the game before Daddy shuffled them to the hotel van right before the massive downpour! I think they still enjoyed themselves. Sadly, David Murphy wasn't playing that night, but I think the blue cotton candy made him feel better! :)

The kids also got treated to tshirts. This is the best pic I could manage of the gang!


The next morning after breakfast, the kids got to swim about 10 minutes before the next big rain came. Bad luck! Daddy had wanted to drive by the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium anyway, so we packed up and headed over there. I had heard they were giving tours, so once again, he took the kids on that adventure as well. I wouldn't have minded tagging along, but I REFUSE to give any of my money to Jerry Jones. Everything he touches is way overpriced and ridiculously out of reach for so many people. The price of tickets for a game in this new stadium leave a whole lot of regular folks out of luck. That is unless you want to pay for standing room tickets! Probably why soooo many people are touring the stadium. $17.95 tour tickets($14.95/kids) are much more reasonable than the $125 game tickets (at best!). B and I went shopping instead. I would much rather give my money to Target! :)

The interview room

The locker room

The press box

Outside the stadium



After a yummy-bad for me-yummy meal at Snuffer's (God bless Blue cheese bacon hamburgers and cheese fries!!), we headed home!

Stacey

OooooooooKlahoma!

On Tuesday last week, the kids and I returned from our 6-day OK tour!

We survived!

Thankfully, the kids stayed pretty entertained by grandparents, cousins, and fun activities. We were busy and slept well every night!

My pictures are pretty much in reverse order because I greatly dislike spending the time it takes to mess with them.

On Tuesday, before heading home, the kids and I adventured out for a little sidetrip. We met my friend Megan from SortaCrunchy! While it is true that we had never before met in person, I have no hesitation in calling her my friend. We met her and her sweet girls at a splash playground with a regular playground next door and let the kids roam while we chatted. It was easy. It felt comfortable. Kids came and went. There were required bathroom breaks. Snacks and drinks were shared. Slides and sand were experienced. I throughly enjoyed our conversations minus the keyboard! It was a such a treat for me and I look forward to the next time!

(Shame on us for not taking any pictures!)

On Monday, we spent the day circling Edmond in order to catch up with several of my friends.

This is my sweet friend, Kellie, from high school. She has held all my babies! She also likes to hold lots of critters too. BTW, did you wash your hands first?!!! :) She actually drove from Tulsa to meet up with us. We ate yummy pizza and let the kids play at the park while we caught up. I love this sweet pic of her and the boys!

I have known Julie since college and am thrilled that she is joining the mommy club in December! I can't wait to meet him! I loved that we met at her parent's house so I could catch up with her mom as well. I worked for her mom in the financial aide office in my college days. I loved the light behind these two. As you can see, B is enchanted with his toes.

Karin and I endured OT school together. Remember when our class turned in "abysmal" work, girl?!! Or the "paradigm shift"? Oh my! This picture cracks me up because B is always giving us the scowl look. It in no way reflects upon the person holding him! :)

Karin secured a solid position as my kids' new favorite person when she allowed them to swim in her pool while it was raining. No worries, the lightening and thunder were absent with this shower. They had a BLAST-thanks friend!


On Sunday, we went to church and spent the day with Nana and my sister's family. That night, the kids attended my old church's VBS which included some wild animals-kangaroo, BIG turtle, snake, and more. No pics because I left them there and took B back to the house for some quiet time. I wish I had seen L ride the big turtle!

Saturday was a busy day with lots of time for the cousins to play while Nana and I visited. My sister and brother-in-law had weddings to cater so we kept the kids entertained. Well, really we just kept them safe and played with the babies. The big kids entertain themselves!

This is my "sister" Rachel. We have known each other longer than we knew we knew each other. Got that? On Saturday night, she and her husband fixed us a yummy dinner (with the best cole slaw I have ever tried!) then the kids dispersed to play. L loved playing a game of backyard baseball with the big kids while A enjoyed the freedom of riding bikes with Rachel's daughter in the neighborhood. She might have enjoyed the Wii a bit as well!!

Rachel having a little talk with B.

Rachel's boys with B.


On Friday, my sister had a conference to attend all day, so all the kids congregated over at Grandpa's for lots of craziness! They couldn't get enough of the waterslide and got to go see a movie. My grandmother and I got a little quiet time while the babies slept!

Cousin L watching out for baby B!

Besides just being a plain cutie, I love B in these pics because I caught him in mid-drool.


Practicing for the ring toss

Waterslide action!

Sassy cousins

Handsome boys (with special hair goop for a cool do!)

Double greats!


That evening, I also got a short surprise visit with my long-time friend, Tracy. She was in town briefly for a sad reason and was able to spare of few minutes to meet B. I hate that I didn't remember to get my camera out for their sweet moments.

Thursday, the kids and I arrived in my hometown after an easy drive. The kids did great and we managed to only make 2 short potty breaks! I can't say the same for the drive home. Little B was restless and required several adjustment stops and one feeding stop. I think we were all ready to be home!

That day, we just hung out with my Dad, Polly, and my grandmother. It was cooler weather and we enjoyed being outside while the kids tested out the waterslide for Friday. The kids got catering service during our visit and I am sure they have been disappointed to be back to mommy service this past week!

I am glad we took the extra time to make the visit feel less rushed!

Stacey

One joy of motherhood is

realizing that sometimes not saying no is a good thing.

A great thing!

I was nursing and the rain was soooo inviting to my other two sweet little people.

How could I possibly say no?!

I think I might have been the cool mother that day.

At least for that moment!

They thoroughly enjoyed their surprise freedom that day.

And I thoroughly enjoyed watching them!














Stacey

REALLY?!!

The other day, my husband dropped me and kids off at a fast-food chain to eat a quick lunch while he had the oil changed and returned to pick us up.

It wasn't that I had ALL three kids in tow.

It wasn't that the debit/credit machines were down due to lightening strikes the night before.

It wasn't that there wasn't even a notice on the doors to prevent me from even wasting my time by coming in.

It wasn't that I was half-way through my order before I noticed the sign on the machine.

It wasn't that the lady forgot to tell me before I started to place my order.

It wasn't that I was stranded with kids and no food.

It WAS the manager's entitled and indignant attitude when I mentioned that it might be a good idea to post this information on the doors to prevent what happened to me happening to someone else.

It WAS the way that the manager barely looked up from her meal to acknowledge my presence and suggestion.

It WAS the way she tried to blame the cashier behind the counter.

It WAS the way she made excuses like "We have a sign on the drive-thru, but it still doesn't do any good.".

It WAS the way that she did.not.even.apologize for the inconvenience.

HELLO! Customer Service!!

I could go on. And on. And on.

But then you wouldn't hear about the grandmother who yelled at my son in the play area (while we waited!) for of all things, playing! Grant it, my son can sometimes play rougher than other kids, but it wasn't the case this time. HER grandson just happened to be a screamer and every jostle my son made on the equipment "scared" her grandson.

Uhhhh, DON'T yell my son!

And yes, I was in such a fowl mood already that I told her just that.

Not one of my prouder moments, but Mama Bear needed to roar!

OK, I didn't roar at her, but I did speak sternly to her in regards to speaking unkind to my child.

What a way to start our vacation weekend! :)

Stacey

I feel gross, so I am living on the edge

I would be stretching the truth, and hear about from several people, if I labeled myself as "fat" these days.

I know that I am pretty lucky to have walked away from my third pregnancy with just the need to do LOTS of toning up.

LOTS!

But nevertheless, I am feeling gross these days.

A girdle-the woman's bff-can only do so much good!

I usually hang onto some pudge while nursing, so I am trying not to be too hard on myself. But between the desire (notice I said "desire" and not action!) to slim and tone, and my seemingly insatiable appetite lately, I feel that I am losing ground fast.

I am hoping to stick "exercising" into my fall schedule for the 3 weekday mornings I am home alone with baby. I bought Jillian Michael's "30-Day Shred" secondhand after hearing several people complain that it does the job! :) Hopefully, that will do the trick until I can couple it with stroller walks once the cooler days roll in.

It might also help if I stop eating/grazing all day.

But I have a plan for that too!

Recently, while reading Cara's underground blog (!)-which I LOVE BTW!!-I was reminded of a book that I own, The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin. So, I started re-reading it. I think that I will re-read a few other health books I have on the shelves and get back to healthy eating. The problem is convincing the rest of the gang to join in with me!

Just last week, in an effort to restock my kitchen, I entered the store with a mission to make 75% of my purchases from the perimeter of the grocery section. Through the aisles, I tried to stick to healthy essentials. As much as possible. I didn't want my family to go into shock! Now, I just have to actually cook the healthy food! :)

I will. I will. All the traveling that I have done lately has made being a lazy cook at home easier. So, I have to recommit after this week!

It will do us ALL good-feel better, look better, act better!

Live better!

Stacey