July/ August 2014

So going with the theme of our lives, this summer was a whirlwind.  I changed to a new school as did both of my girls.  It has been a wonderful change.  We truly miss where we left but feel like we are settled into a place that is right.  I am realizing daily how resilient and steadfast our girls are. Neither had a problem changing schools.  I had more anxiety about switching then both of them combined ever could dream of.  They walk into their schools like they own them.

We headed on a trip a few weeks back up to the Texas Hill Country.  Both girls were able to climb to the top of Enchanted Rock like it was a mere hill! K even went through a cave with her dad.  Even in the midst of being stuck literally in a tight spot, they slid blindly down a muddy slope in hopes of emerging victors.  No fears...at least from the 6 year old :)

Ok, I get it...it's been a while

So, we have had a while since we talked.  We have been busy.  In fact, just now, I tried to start this post while watching a pre-recorded movie, listening to a oil class online, waiting for the kids to fall asleep, and having an adult beverage.  Just so you know, that does not work well.  I had to cut out a few things.  Kelsey and Cadie have changed so much since my last post.  Cadie is 3 and Kelsey is 6.  Kels just finished Kinder....wait did I just say that? I like to say that they are the best of friends at times and the worst of enemies at other times.  It is like each knows the buttons of the other.  Kels can not stand to be told multiple times the same thing and yet Cadence just seems to push that button hourly!  Cadie is my favorite morning girl! She has gotten into the routine of coming into our room at 5:30 (in the summer.....) and crawl into bed with us.  She insist on sharing my pillow because her dad's isn't good enough.  Every time I crack an eye open while pretending to sleep, there she is, smiling away! She is definitely a morning child.  Even if I wake up, she tends to be smiling and full of joy no matter what! She screams bloody murder in the evenings but mornings....she is great. I have been doing a Women's  Bible study online with some college friends lately.   The topic is primarily "Joy".  When I think of Joy daily, it is Cadie waking up! How funny is that? It is our main time together just us.  Now later on during the day....not so much! :)

Growing up...

So this fall has brought a few changes here.  I have had to change the way I talk to my students.  I have to keep reminding myself that when I talk about Kelsey, I have to label her as a Kinder student! I keep messing up and my students are always correcting me.  It is now October and I have completely forgotten to post a few pictures.

Kelsey officially started dance classes.  She is taking a ballet/tap class.  She was NOT excited about tap to the point she almost refused to take dance classes if tap was involved.  If took a few moments of Angelina Ballerina tap dancing to convince her to try it.  Now she is hooked! Score for mom and dad that we found her a dance class for only $12/month!

 

Cadie....what to say about Cadie.... her goal in life I have determined is to push the limits.  She is bound and determined to see just how far she can go and how much hair she can make her father lose. She is a ball of energy with no fear! Even her teacher this past week mentioned just how stubborn she can get when she puts her mind to it.  She screamed for nearly 2 hours yesterday as I tried to break her of the pacifier habit.  She only gets it in bed and I thought I could break the habit...boy was I wrong! This is what I found a few days ago as we were driving home....the sun was "attacking her" she says....

 

Here is her refusal to sleep alone...good thing her GPa was there to help out.

 

I also posted a new post about my latest Young Living essential oil shipment here.

 

 

 

Fall is here!

Fall Time is here! I love the fall! We visited Church this morning and the pumpkins had arrived.  That means picture taking time.  Too bad my girls are on opposite smiling schedules.  They just can't seem to smile at the same time.  You couldn't imagine how many pictures we took before we could get just these 3!  We took a moment out after church and before the dedication of our new building to try some photos.  We may stop by later during the week for pictures better than what my old iPhone can do.

I love the smells of the fall too! I love diffusing Thieves at the house for it's cinnamon and nutmeg smell as well for it's germ-fighting uses! I love the holidays too (well maybe not Halloween as much since it stills can get creepy).  I've recently started using Young Living oils which is where the Thieves comes from.  If you are interested, I've started a blog (Click here) to keep an account of our experiences.

I think fall just seems to bring out great home memories and makes you want to decorate (and eat).  It doesn't hurt that the TV series all come back and no official STAAR testing goes on!

Marina Days

A few weeks ago we woke up and decided to take an adventure.We saw that Corpus Christi was have a Marina Days and decided to check it out.  The vendors were not over-the-top but they did have a replica of the Columbus ships available for tours.  After climbing aboard, Robbie was instantly sucked in to all the possible information.  The girls on the other hand.....not so much.  The youngest was however taken to searching the Gulf for "triangles" otherwise known as sailboats.  She had a ball of a time!

The eldest on the other hand was uninterested in anything but food.  Have I mentioned she is going through a growth spurt? Crazy!

I look at my daughter, and I believe

Actually that should be "my daughters". While jogging this morning, I was listening to my "running" playlist and the song by Live came on titled "Heaven". It is a little older of song but the meaning in it is so deep. Here is a sample of the lyrics for those of you who don't listen to this type of music:

You don't need no friends get back your faith again

you have the power to believe

another dissident

take back your evidence it has no power to deceive

I'll believe it when I see it, for myself

I don't need no one to tell me about heaven

I look at my daughter, and I believe.

I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth

I can see the sunset and I perceive

I sit with them all night

everything they say is right but in the morning they were wrong

I'll be right by your side come hell or water high

down any road you choose to roam

I'll believe it when I see it for myself

There are some things during the past day, month, year that I have learned about myself and family...

1. I love organization and yet can not seem to stay that way.  Robbie will tell you I am the first to buy new containers and "organizational" items but am still not living in an organized home.

2.  While extremely proud of my husband, I have realized that we will probably never have those normal family weekends and family vacation times consistently. 

3. Everytime Robbie goes back into work for a evening, I will always worry.

4.  In a less that 3 weeks, I will be the mom of a 4 year old and a 1 year old. 

5.  Even after a struggling, sleepless night, it takes one smile from Kelsey or Cadie in the morning for me to forget all of the previous night.

6.  I am starting to enjoy running.  Mind you I said "starting". I will also admit that I have and "ecletic" running playlist.  Much of it is made up of teeny-pop music including Britney and many of the Glee-charting songs.   It does include varying artists such as Casting Crowns, Live, Shakira, and Linkin Park.

7.  I have been truly blessed with the husband and 2 girls God has given to me. 

8.  There is nothing better than a hug, smile, or even a tackle from the girls.  Yes, now that Cadence has learned to stand, she straight up tackled me this morning on purpose.  It made Kelsey laugh so hard so rolled on the floor!

9.  Even in South TX, there are still places to travel to.  Granted we are a long way from most anywhere else, but my family still finds places to discover.

Photo taken in Brazos Bend St. Park

10.  I am very goal-oriented.  I started to finish this post and publish it but then I realized that I had ended on 9 points and just couldn't post it until I had listed 10.  I like round numbers. 

Life with 2 and a husband

Kelsey is just 2 weeks from turning 4 years old and I am in disbelief. The changes that kids go through when they are young is amazing. At what age does the changing slow down? With every passing year or even month, kids change and grow considerable. Before having my own kids I never would gave imagined it. This time last year Kelsey was having difficulty speaking and was having incredible fits. We would put her in time out and she would refuse to come out of time out for hours. Now she is speaking so well and even spelling colors and knows all of here letter sounds.

Cadie is 7 months old and starting to say what I fully believe to be "mama". Robbie claims Kelsey said dada first so he is willing to let me believe Cadie says mama. She isn't crawling but is sitting up and feeding herself and the high chair cereal.

Looking back over the past year makes me wonder at what point does the learning curve start to slow or even go backwards? I sometimes look back over a few months and ask myself just what did I learn or how have I grown...I am afraid of what my answer might be. This is the time of the year we are told to be thankful and I am thankful for many things including my life and where I am at in it but I have to ask myself, am I missing some pivotal times to grow and change? I often feel like my mind is stuck in high school or college stages where I spend a considerable amount of time worrying about appearances and opinions. At what point do we grow out of this or will I be walking down the hall of a nursing home one day worrying that my hair is just slightly the wrong shade of gray-ish blue? Insecurity is a horrid thing that I wonder how much of a part it might play in the decrease in my growth. I look at my girls and see that they grow so much and have no cares about what others think of them. I know there is a scientific answer out there but I just wonder how much people might hold themselves back simply because of perceptions...