Landen is 7 months!

Oh, this year is flying by! I can't believe he is already 7 months old. It makes me so sad....I wish he could stay a baby forever (one that sleeps all night, but still a baby!! Ha!) In the last month, he has refined his bye-bye wave, he is starting to sleep a little better and has a had a couple of nights where he has slept until around 6 a.m. or so (hallelujiah!!), and he is starting to eat little pieces of food that he picks up with his hands. He is getting such a personality--he loves attention (I guess that comes with being the baby in the family??).....

I thought I would post a couple of pictures from our salvaged weekend away...I didn't take my camera, but did get a couple on my phone. We really did have a good time after all of the water leak drama!

Such a cutie pie!!

Sometimes it's harder getting a shot of the big kids than it is the baby!!

Me and Kylie-Bug after a ride on the swings!

Landen's first picture in the SDC coffin! I have one of me when I was around 6 years old! Too cool!

Landen's first visit to SDC....

Why? Now I know!

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, I was a little refreshed from the horrible evening Friday night. And, if you know me, then you know that I don't give up too easy. So, I decided to call my Papaw and get some advice. Richie had fixed the leak under the kitchen sink, but now we were up against a bigger battle in the bathroom. The sink in there was leaking and looked like it would require a bigger fix. Papaw is so sweet. If you haven't met my Papaw, I promise you are missing out--he would move Heaven and Earth for anyone. When I called, he assessed the problem (going to require an entire new sink faucet in the bathroom....great). He told me where to find a couple of RV repair shops, however both were closed, so now to Plan B. He thought that maybe, just maybe it would be a faucet that was "universal" and we could find one at Lowe's. So, he told me to go get the faucet and he would drive ALL the way up here, fix it, and get a hotel for the night!!! Talk about a servant's heart! Friday night, I was asking why this happened....today I know! Why? Because Friday night, Richie was on his own to fix the kitchen sink and he did it....ALL BY HIMSELF! I was so proud that he took the time, stayed calm and patient and figured out a way to get it to work....and at the end he said, "thank you Lord". Wow! My heart melted at that moment. Then, when the bathroom sink was broke, too. I learned that I have people in this world (like Papaw) that will stop what they are doing, change their entire weekend plans, and move mountains to help me. It just broke his heart that we were going to have to come home Saturday morning and not get to go to SDC.

So, I went to Lowe's (all by myself I must say), bought a sink and a few "plumbing tools" and managed to find my way to and from the store! When I got back, Richie replaced the sink which saved my Papaw from having to make the trip up here. And guess what? The new faucet worked! No more leaks! And so we got ready, and headed to SDC for the day for World Fest....and the weather was absolutely PERFECT! Sunshine and cool breezes all day! We had a lot of fun. We were only able to see one show since it was late by the time we got there, but that's OK. We learned a lot this weekend--we are a team, we can weather any "storm" together, and we can do a few things now that we thought we couldn't do!

While we were at Silver Dollar City, we saw the CEO of Silver Dollar City! Joel Manby was there to celebrate SDC's 50th birthday yesterday! Did you see the episode of Undercover Boss that featured him? When I saw him, I wanted to get a picture with him, but figured that Richie would think I was a goofball! But I did see him and he was in jeans and a t-shirt and seemed to be the way he was represented on the show--very laid back and easy-going. Pretty neat!

I need a vacation from my vacation!

I have been looking forward to this weekend for over a month--our first trip in the motorhome as a family of 5. It was going to be a trip to Branson for WorldFest that I keep missing because it decides to rain every time we plan to come. However, it didn't work that way. Right now I am sitting in the motorhome in Branson. Yes, we made it. Yes, it's thundering. I can handle that--we knew when we loaded up that we might get wet. But, not in the way it turned out. We have two water leaks. One in the bathroom and one in the kitchen....therefore we can't hook up the water. Which means, we can't wash our hands, shower, pee.....nothing involving water. Lovely.

Why? Why? Why? I just wanted a simple getaway for the weekend with my family. Nothing fancy! I just wanted to enjoy the time off from work before starting another hectic week of work, meetings, games, etc. WHY? But hey, we have wi-fi at our campsite. That's about the only thing worth celebrating! Poor Richie, he's wet, tired, sweaty and just ready to go home. And so am I. But I am so mad that I don't get to go to World Fest again....and we haven't even broken the news to the kids because they fell asleep on the couch waiting for us to get everything hooked up after fixing one of the leaks and wiping up water all over the place.

So, I am off to bed. I just pray I get a good night's sleep out of the deal.

I will write about the week's events some other time--too mad to type.

Some Checkmarks on my List

I actually feel like I got a few things accomplished this weekend while everyone was away. But wiht Landen, I didn't get nearly as much as I would've liked. That's OK, I am relishing every minute of baby time right now because it seems to be flying by!

I thoroughly enjoyed our sermon today. I would call it the "holier than thou" sermon because it was on self-righteous versus humility. Luke 18:9-14 was the passage and it was such an eye opener. How many times have we made sure everyone knows of our good deeds and how we aren't "like those people"? However, in the parable it talks about how God's mercy was given to the tax collector because he simply and humbly told God he was sorry for being a sinner. It was so humbling to hear as I have several people in my life right now going through difficult times. I find myself letting God know of what great things I accomplish and how I don't do "they stuff they do", but that isn't what he wants from me. He wants my sin! I listened to the sermon and thought about how I have felt like the tax collector before--where everyone around you points at you and is glad they aren't you. Then, I have been the Pharisee where I am pointing....and I was so humbled and remorseful for my actions. I felt awful. But then I thought back to an hour before church started when Richie and I attended the membership class for our church. The pastor had talked about how our church accepts everyone--even if you have a past, even if you have made mistakes. And I thought, "Wow, I am in the perfect place." I am right where I need to be. I love our church and the feeling I get from my time there. I need my church--I needed the message today to step all over my toes and remind me that I make plenty of mistakes to keep my busy about worrying about myself and not everyone else's mistakes. I want to embrace others, not condemn them.

One more thing on my heart. I have a friend who is going through some trying times as a parent. I feel such a deep sorrow for her and the things she has experienced in the past week. As a parent, she is struggling with some of the most difficult and trying times she will face with her children. But, instead of being mad at God, when I talked with her, I realized she has her eyes on God and fully trusts him. She was full of faith that he will open her daughter's eyes and it just impressed me so much. She has such a strong love for her children and for God....and you know what? I think she is right--he will be there for her daughter when she's ready to come back to Him. Between now and that day, I will continue to pray for her and that she just remains strong and full of that faith.

Well, it's off to another Monday!

My Big Boy

I am at home right now waiting on my shipment of drug samples. In the meantime, I am trying to catch up on some emails, documents, etc. I thought I would take a little break and blog about my "big boy".

Weston will be 10 years old (DOUBLE DIGITS!!) in a couple of weeks. And I have started to see the "big boy" changes in him lately. First of all, he will not let me pick out his clothes without him being there. When we shop, he asks for suggestions, but I can definitely tell that he has some likes and dislikes now. We went shopping last weekend and bought all of the kids a ton of clothes for the spring/summer (come on GKS check!!). He is very self-conscious about his clothes and looks. Such a change from even 6 months ago! The other thing he asks for is to have his hair fixed every morning. His hair is getting long and really does need to be fixed, but he wants it "styled". So funny! He gets it styled, hairspray and all every morning--which is a HUGE change for him! He's growing up on me! He even wants "undershirts" now for all of his clothes and he likes only one style of socks. I remember this age though when the awareness of your appearance starts to become a reality. It's so neat to watch all of the stages of growth in my kids' lives....and bittersweet!

And finally, I found this shirt last night at the GKS sale when I went to drop off a few more items (actually Kylie found it and wanted to get it for Landen and Richie).....and I happily obliged. Can't wait til Richie sees it!! :)

Spring Fling

Stacy, I need to get your ringtone....it's my turn for the "All By Myself". Richie is away this weekend for the annual Spring Fling fishing tournament. Honestly, why do they call it Spring Fling? Anyway, it's just me and the kiddos--and I am exhausted! Bad part is, he only left 3 hours ago! But, I plan to get some things accomplished this weekend while we don't have plans and I will have the spare time. When it comes down to it though, my "to-do list" may get streamlined to "watch chick flick".

In other news, I don't know if I have officially documented it on the blog or not, but Landen is sitting up on his own! He has been doing this for a couple of weeks now and it's the cutest thing! He looks like such a big boy! His other recent accomplishment is saying Da-Da....and that's ALL he says ALL of the time. So, I will conveniently ask him who he wants to get up with him at night or who he wants to change his diaper, etc. :) I mean, if he's gonna say it, then shouldn't Richie earn it? :)

Dinner Dilemma

So, I am driving to Conway today and as I was listening to my satellite radio, the guy on the station said that a lady in Ohio had found a dead rat in her Spaghetti O's can....gross. Kylie eats spaghetti o's about 3 times a week! When I got home and was looking for something to eat, all I could think about was that dead rat soaking in Spaghetti O's as I looked in the pantry and saw 4 cans of Spaghetti O's staring back at me! Such a loss of appetite....I could not figure out anything that sounded good to eat.
However, I just read the most recent information on the issue and supposedly it wasn't a dead rat, it was only mold per the ConAgra spokesperson. Ok, only mold? Still gross!
Here's the URL and they even shot a video of the contents of the can! (Update: video was removed from article....hhmm, guess ConAgra didn't want you to visualize the grossness! And per some of the comments below the video section, people saw feet and a tail on that video before it was removed.....still thinking mold now?) You can still read the article though....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/19/chef-boyardee-rat-spaghet_n_543006.html

Anyone still hungry?

Where's my brain?

I have lost my mind I think. I can't find it--anyone seen it? At least that's how I feel the last few days. And honestly, I don't know why. I am not upset about anything, life is going great, everyone is healthy for the most part, but I just can't focus and concentrate. Last night, I searched and searched and then searched some more for my car keys so I could make a quick trip to Wal-Mart. I even checked the oven where I had just put the meatloaf in before I left! But I couldn't find them anywhere. I was about to give up, when it hit me. Literally. I had tucked them in the band of my shorts....so I wouldn't lose them! And yesterday morning, I started out the day trying to figure out where in the world I needed to work at. At about 2 pm, it dawned on me that it was my "Van Buren" day....and I had spent the whole day working in Fort Smith. So, just a couple of examples of my lack of brains lately.

If you find my brain, please return it soon.....before I lose it all!

"Kylie" Night

Weston is staying with a friend tonight, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to have a special night for Kylie! With 3 kids, it's hard to make them feel special at times! She has been so helpful lately--she loves to play with Landen which is a huge help, she never complains about her chores, she has been really practicing with her manners and I just felt like I am quick to discipline when she messes up, but how about a reward for such good behavior? So, tonight we are going to go eat at Fuji and then see the new Miley movie. I told her on the way home from school and she was SOOO excited. She went inside and put her sundress and sandals on and said, "I'm ready!"

In other news, Landen has been sick. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday and they said it's just a cold, so no antibiotics. Bad thing is, he's still sick. And not sleeping. I am so tired. I hope this hurries and runs its course soon!

Last night I had the pleasure of working at the Growing Kids sale and I absolutely loved it! It's the first time I have ever worked and I thought I would give it a try. I loved seeing all the stuff coming in and a few of us girls started making lists while we were inspecting! I already have a game plan! Plus, I get to shop early too which I haven't had a chance to do before, so maybe I will get some cute things. I really want a bath ring for Landen and I have searched Wal-Mart and Target from here to Conway and can't find one. But there were three there last night! Woo Hoo! These days, it's the little things, ya know?

Finally, I bought the new Point of Grace CD this week. I have always been a fan, but I must say I really love this new CD. Kind of a different sound for them. Anyway, my favorite song on there is "Love and Laundry". I was listening to it yesterday and just started to laugh out loud. I swear they have my life pegged! Here's the video to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y06GnOMqItw

Be sure and listen to the words! That's the funny part!

I Wanna Move Back to the Country!

Ok, this city living stuff is scary! I have seen more critters in the last 9 months at our new home than I saw in 5 plus years "in the country". We just killed our 2nd snake 2 days ago! The first snake was Easter Sunday and we were pulling up at the house and Richie had just opened the garage door when we saw the snake crawling along the side of the house...heading for the garage. Richie jumped out of the van and the snake turned around, but then he saw Richie and headed right back to the garage--and right into it! However, there was a glue pad right at the inside corner of the garage and he had a little trouble navigating after that! The kids and I were in the van...they were like "oh cool, look mom!" I was screaming and covering my eyes. Snakes and scorpions get the same response from me.

So two days ago, the kids and Richie were coming home afterschool when another snake was in the SAME spot and heading toward the garage. Richie got out and grabbed a Swiffer mop and tried to head him off. This one started up the wall of the house on the electrical boxes---AAAHHH! He then made his way to the back patio and got underneath my new couch (which funny thing was one of my fears that critters would be there and I would sit down and not know it)....after that he got up on the windowsill. YUCK.

So, I am ready for some country living--'cause this city stuff is kind of scary!!

2010 Snake Count: 2 (and it's only April)

Happy Anniversary, Richie!

Today is our 2 year anniversary! Time really flies. It seems like just yesterday we were down in Mexico walking along the beaches and eating dinner by the shore. What fun we had!

Richie,

I am just so happy to be your wife! I am so proud of the husband you are and the dad you have become. I admire you so much for your inquisitiveness, your ability to stand your ground (except when I want my way!), and how you never give up. I love how you stand up for what's important to you, including me. You are my best friend and I can't wait to see how the rest of our lives unfold. Thank you for Landen and thank you for two great years! I have had a blast!

I LOVE YOU!

Anniversary Weekend!

What an awesome weekend this has been so far! Our 2 year wedding anniversary is Monday, so we started the weekend off by celebrating! Last night we went to see Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum in concert. I LOVE Lady A! We had some awesome seats--15th row and we were about 10 people away from the stage. Great show!! We stayed overnight in LR....this was the first time that both of us have been away from Landen at the same time. It was nice to not have to get up at 3 a.m.! However, he stayed at Granny's house while we were gone and evidently he was a little ornery. He decided he wouldn't even sleep next to Granny in bed (much less in a bed by himself) and she had to HOLD him in the recliner all night long. Might be the last time we get to go away for awhile!! :)

We got up bright and early this morning and headed to VB to ride the train. It was about a 2 1/2 hour round trip and it was so fun! I have never done anything like that and the scenery was just beautiful....what a gorgeous state we live in!

From there, we ate lunch and then headed to the store to buy some more plants for a flower bed Richie has been working on. Then it was home to pick up Landen....I sure did miss him!

Happy Easter!

***Several posts today....look back for all of them!***

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter! We had a wonderful time today. I must say I have spent the entire weekend stressed and worn out trying to plan and prepare dinner and festivities for the whole family....to the point I had no nerves left last night! I was fried! But, as everyone ate dinner this afternoon and the kids hunted their eggs, I knew in my heart I wouldn't trade a single minute of my stress for that time with my family! It was a great day! And how about that beautiful weather? Wonderful!

I took the opportunity to snap a few photos of the kids and even me and Richie! I also got some 6 month pictures of Landen that I am very proud of! I waited too long to get a photographer for this spring and was so upset that I was going to miss out on some great photos of him, but I am so happy these pictures turned out great! I haven't had a moment to photoshop them yet, these are the real deal, but I wanted to get them up for my family and friends to enjoy ASAP.....

What a beautiful baby!!

Landen and Mommy

Landen and Kaden

Landen finds an egg!

Kaden finds an egg!

Guess who found the most eggs? :)

Cutie pie!!

Me and Richie

My three beautiful kiddos!!

Happy Landen!!

Weston and Kylie (I can't believe how big they are getting!!)

Another one of the big kids!

A 50th Wedding Anniversary!

My great aunt and uncle celebrated 50 years of marriage yesterday! What a wonderful accomplishment and testament to their love and devotion to each other as well as the hearts of these people! Truly amazing! We had a special anniversary party for them and all of their children, grandchildren, and friends and family were there to help celebrate the occasion. They have had their shares of ups and downs, trials and tribulations like all of us, but they have weathered the storms together and I can honestly say they are a wonderful and devoted couple! A side note that I found amazing...in this picture of them yesterday, she is wearing her wedding dress from 50 years ago!!! How many of us can do that??? WOW!

Patio Makeover

Ever since we bought this house last July, I have wanted to have outdoor living furniture on the patio to enjoy. I searched and searched last summer and just didn't see anything I liked. So, we waited until this spring to search again. And I finally found something!! Here's some before and after shots of the back patio...I LOVE it! I would really like to enclose the area into a sunroom, but I'm not sure how much that would cost and don't know if I really have the time to deal with it right now, so we will enjoy the back area for now in it's "natural state". So excited to have somewhere to entertain and hang out with the family!

The Before Shot....

And the finished product!

A Boy and his Dog

I have to give Andy (our dog) some credit...he is absolutely wonderful with Landen. For an 8 1/2 year old Rat Terrier, he has been truly phenomenal with him. Andy is such a "Daddy's boy" and I was very afraid he would show some jealousy toward Landen. And I was also afraid that he might snap or bite at Landen if Landen played a little too rough. But he hasn't shown a hint of jealousy and he is so tolerant of Landen! Landen loves to give kisses and so when we asked him to give Andy some, he didn't mind at all! When Landen is in his walker and Andy is walking by, Landen is just mesmerized by him. I think there are many days of fun time between the two of them to come! I thought these pictures were just too cute!

Landen's 1/2 Birthday!

Landen is 6 months old today! It has completely flown by....I am so bittersweet about it. I am enjoying every minute of having him, but I still can't believe half of his first year is already gone! He is getting such a personality and just the other day when I was looking at him, he even has the hints of a "little boy" look to him. I think this is a lot harder because I truly know he is going to be the last baby and I want to relish every single minute with him. Richie says he is such a Momma's boy, and you know what? He is! I just love snuggling with him at night in bed, toting him on my hip as I race around the house, rocking him to sleep, and even those midnight (actually 2 a.m.) feedings he still insists on!

Some of his accomplishments in the first six months include giving kisses, rolling from his belly to his back, throwing a temper tantrum, and trying to wave bye-bye.

I love you little buddy!!

Busy Bee

Ok, I promise I haven't posted in a week because I was THAT traumatized from the scorpion...it's just been a chaotic week! I got sick Wednesday night/Thursday morning and still wasn't feeling wonderful when the weekend started. We did manage to make it to Big Cedar this weekend to hang out with my parents at their cabin and had a great, but very short time!! It never fails that when you do something to relax, it goes by twice as fast! Poor Landen (and Richie)...Landen is cutting his second tooth on the bottom and it is killing him. He was SO fussy all weekend, so the relaxation part wasn't as much as we wanted. We did manage to get some shopping in and to Richie's delight, we finally found some new lamps for the top of the entertainment center. He has never liked the lamps I have up there, but to my defense, I don't like to just buy stuff to being buying it--I want it to be something I really like. However, I have had those lamps since my the last time in F. Hills, so yes, it was time to replace them! We also bought a gorgeous new standing lamp for the hearth room that I really love! I will try and put some pictures on here soon to show you....This is all stuff that was in addition to a few things we picked up the weekend before. Richie has also been begging me to ditch the greenery above the kitchen counters. I wasn't attached to it or anything, but again nothing had come along that really struck me, so I just set that up there until I found what I wanted. We also got a new rug for the living room and a new print. Again, things Richie didn't like, but AGAIN things I was using until something better came along! I am not a big "print" fan, in fact this was a picture we bought for our bathroom, but it was too big. When we got to looking at it closer, it went perfect in our living room! Man, I guess we have managed to redo every living area in the house!! It is finally starting to take the shape of "our home"! I love how it is coming together!

On the Easter side of things, I am hosting the big dinner at my house this year. My Meme is not doing very good and Mom isn't up to hosting it at hers, so I guess it's my turn. I am excited though! Wish me luck that I don't burn the turkey! :)

Traumatized.

It snowed 10 inches plus at the house yesterday. It's cold. It's wet. It's the end of March. And there was a SCORPION IN MY HOUSE tonight!! Yes! What's that all about? It's not time for them yet! I can't handle them yet! I'm not ready! I have stuff on the floor, a baby that needs to figure out how to roll over and sit up and those stupid critters are already out and about! I was in the kitchen cooking and looked down and saw something about 4 INCHES from my foot and started to walk toward the oven when I did a double take. Then, I screamed. Then screamed again. Then I remembered Landen was asleep. But then I screamed again. Richie told me that was the most horrific scream he's ever heard. I told him that was a contained scream because I was afraid I'd wake up Landen. I think he was shocked that the scream could be worse. Anyway, I ran out of the kitchen until he killed it, got rid of it, and then convinced me the coast was clear. Good thing I worked on the garage Friday because I'm not going anywhere near that stuff now. In fact, I put out a glue trap Friday night and when we saw the scorpion in the house, we went and checked it and there's a scorpion tail on it!

Later on, I was sweeping the kitchen and my husband thought it would be absolutely hilarious to yell, "scorpion!!". I jumped, threw the broom, and ran out of the kitchen. And screamed again. He decided that wasn't smart a idea.

So, let the scorpion count begin:

2010 Scorpions: 1

Dear Lord, Help me.

"Imma Be" sitting at home...in the snow!

Today is the first day of spring--but you wouldn't know it by the weather. What's this snow all about? It's because I planned to go to Tulsa today! I am so sad to be missing the Peas! I was really looking forward to visiting my step-sister. Oh well. So, instead the kids, Richie, and I went and got a new rug for the living room, some Easter outfits for the kids, and "test drove" some patio furniture to get an idea of what we are looking for. I think we may close in our patio area, so I want something a little more dressy than just patio chairs. It's hard to commit to a set because I'm afraid there will be something better at a lower price.

A Sure Sign I'm Old....And I Need to Clean Out My Garage!

Remember these? If not, they are called "cassette tapes". They are virtually obsolete! I found this box in the garage this evening while I was doing a little spring cleaning. (A sure sign it's time to clean out my garage if I still have cassette tapes in it...) My poor family came home and since it was so nice outside, I put everyone to work--it's spring, that means it's time to clean! During my cleaning, I came across my cassette tape holder and had some MAJOR flashbacks!

Do you remember the Nelson twins? The blonde guys? I had (ok, technically should say still "have") that cassette...how about Debbie Gibson? Tiffany? How about "Rump Shaker"? But I think my favorite to run across was DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. The tape with "Parents Just Don't Understand" on it....too funny! I think I remember some of the guys doing a skit to it in middle school....James, Mikey, Ben?

Anyway, all that box did was make me feel really old...my kids don't even know what "cassettes" are!

P.S. That's not my Adam Sandler tape....I have no clue where I picked that up from!

"Imma B" in Tulsa at the Show!!

Yesterday afternoon my step-sister texted me to find out what was on the schedule for this weekend. I told her just usual kiddo stuff--practices, etc, but nothing fancy....why? Well, she has an extra ticket to the Black Eyed Peas concert this weekend and wanted to know if I would like to go with her and her step-daughter Saturday night. Let me think...ummm..YES!! So, Imma b at the Tulsa Black Eyed Peas concert Saturday night! Woo Hoo! And bonus--the minivan does know how to play my Black Eyed Peas CD, so it's definitely a keeper now! This is such a treat because I would never buy tickets to BEP for myself--I know Richie wouldn't go with me and with 3 kids, I have a hard time paying $100/ticket for anything...but my sweet sister is GIVING me the ticket!!

In order to go, I have to take the big kids (aka Weston and Kylie) to Tulsa with me so that Richie isn't outnumbered. I was able to get the ticket to go because my brother-in-law Bill doesn't want to go, so instead he's taking the big kids to the movies, putt-putt etc....I told my step-sister Karla to be sure and tell Bill a big thank you from me for not liking them! :)

So, BEP here I come!!

NEVER say Never!!

There's two things in life I swore I'd never do......

1) Marry a cop. My old perception of cops? They are all egotistical men who think they have all the power! Well, I was wrong....there are a lot of good guys out there that protect us each and every day! They are not all like that--in fact, every job has good people and bad people in it. Shame on me for assuming that a career defines your character.

Love You Richie!

2) Own a minivan. I swore up and down over the years that I would NEVER own a minivan. To me, that was like conceding--that's saying, "I give up. I am a Mom and I have no choice but to drive a minivan." Well, let me just say that when it came time to order my new company vehicle, I couldn't order a minivan fast enough! Three kids and work supplies makes a car cramped beyond belief! I just got my van yesterday and absolutely LOVE it! Tons of space and the doors and rear hatch open with a push of a button! That's just too cool! Why haven't I driven a minivan before now?

But to my defense, I still don't "own" a minivan, so I guess I must admit that if I had to go purchase a vehicle, it would definitely still be an SUV....you just can't beat them. They have looks and space! But for now, I have no shame sporting the minivan!! :)

Lovin' the van---even if my "coolness" just went to obsolete!

So, moral of this post? Never say never! 'Cause you never know when you'll have to "eat crow"!

Tooth News!

Baby Landen cut his first tooth today! He has been working SO hard on that little tooth--tons of slobber, lots of crying, plenty of chewing on his fingers. I was at a baby shower today for a friend and he was fussing, so I rubbed his gums to see what that "bump" was doing now. Low and behold, there was little bitty razor bumps in its place! You can barely see it, so it wasn't worth trying to get a picture just yet, but maybe in a few days. Richie asked me if he thought he would finally not be cranky anymore--I just laughed and told him that he has a whole mouthful waiting their turn to break through!

So far, we've had a great weekend. Richie had to work tonight, but other than that, we've had some great time with friends and family. Last night my mother-in-law made me a homemade birthday dinner--it was so good (and even better because I didn't have to cook!) Today, after the baby shower, Landen and I took a long 2 hour nap together....so nice to just relax! Then, we had made plans to have a grown-up night with Jeremy/Catina without the kids, but both babies were a little under the weather, so we decided to just stay in instead. Catina made a wonderful Mexican pizza casserole thing and cookies (she cheated though and made no-bake cookies since she has watched me burn the cookies the last two times they came to our house!!). We really love hanging out with them--no frills, just good times! Baby Addi is a mover and a shaker! That girl is already sitting up and bounces like crazy...she reminds me so much of Weston when he was a baby. She also loves giving Eskimo kisses--it is SO CUTE! She puts her nose to yours and just looks at you--I got so tickled when she kept doing it to me over and over. She's precious!

Kickin' My Rear

Have you ever done something and just not been 100% pleased with the results? That's me today. I am making a cake for a friend's baby shower....supposed to be chocolate icing w/orange dots, but had to go to Plan B. Then, Landen was pretty fussy last night so I had to constantly stop and start, now the cake doesn't look perfect--and that bugs me. Instead of the polka dots plan, I decorated it with chocolate covered strawberries, shaved chocolate, and sprinkles. I hated that it wasn't the way Andria had requested, but she was so nice about the little change of plans. So, let's pray all of the girls are blind at the shower and see with their tastebuds instead! :)

But don't worry, I'll get my revenge on the cake at the shower--I plan to have an extra big slice!

The Mother Load...and the Mother Post!

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful--no kids, no husband, no problems! Just me in a nice quiet, dark room with soothing music playing as the girl rubbed some goop on my face and body. Two hours of pure bliss--I highly recommend this as the ONLY way to celebrate any birthday beyond 30!
However, I must've had WAY too much time to relax and think because I have decided to go back to school. Lord. Help. Me. (not a cliche, but a sincere cry to God to help!!) It's been really bugging me as to how I can help what I have witnessed over the past week or so. I have no more space in my home right now, so I can't take anymore kids in! But a few years ago, I started working on the Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Then, life happened. I got divorced and felt that who was I to tell people how to solve their problems if I can't solve my own? So, I switched majors and got my Masters in Leadership and Ethics. It seemed the perfect idea--at the time ABF paid 1/2 of my tuition and it really helped me to get my current job in pharma sales. I am so happy with my new job and glad to have the degree, but I have always thought that I would love to finish the MFT program. But I was so insecure about pursuing it--now I am divorced, so am I qualified to counsel anyone? I felt that I wasn't good enough to do it. But yesterday, I had some good quality time to read Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurity". If you don't read Katie's blog (and you should...what a sweet family!), then you might not be familiar with the book. Katie has a great story about how it has touched her and I can say that it is an absolutely WONDERFUL book so far!! Thanks again Katie for your candidness about the book--I don't know if I would've gotten it out of the bag or not. Why? Because again, I felt that if I have to read some book on insecurity, then who am I to help anyone? Beth sent me the answer straight from the Big Man himself in her book. I am the perfect person for the job! Why? Because I have been through a lot. I have had a lot of life experiences--challenges that have made me so much stronger. Challenges that have made me a better wife the second time around, a better Mom, and a much better friend. I am NOT a perfect person--I have made my fair share (and then many more) mistakes in life.
I had always had this perception of Beth Moore as this perfect little Christian woman who is much more competent and much better at helping people than me. But two pages in the book and I learned a lot--she's not perfect either! What? Nope, she's not and that has helped her to help others!
In just the first 40 pages of the book, I have seen many places where insecurity has sabotaged parts of my life. It's been such an eye-opener for me to see that it's so common among women, too. I struggle daily with the guilt that comes with being a Mom who works outside the home. I feel like I am not fulfilling my womanly duties by not being with my kids or being able to volunteer. I do my best to go to as many activities as I can for my kids, but I can't do it all. And I hate that. I also struggle where so many women struggle...is my husband going to leave me for someone else one day? So sad, but that is such a huge concern. And by being insecure about that, all that I accomplish is worrying myself to death over something that honestly is not something to worry about. Worrying over something won't make it not happen. Like Katie, I recently had a "friend break-up". But, over the last two months, I have fully realized that I made a decision to end the friendship for the right reasons. And I have to admit that the lack of drama in my and Richie's life has reduced dramatically! I hate the outcome for several reasons, but I know deep down that if this was a healthy friendship for us, then the results would've been completely different.
Heck, as I type these things, insecurity tries to eat away at me....will I offend someone with what I am saying? Will they think less of me? Will they use my faults against me? Will they think I am bragging about something? Insecurity is SO debilitating!
So, back to the MFT program--I set several parameters that had to be met before I would even consider it. First, I wasn't going to pay for anymore schooling! Guess what? My company offers 100% reimbursement! Secondly, I would only consider it if I didn't have to "retest" to enter the graduate program. Answer: the guy at the school told me I am good since I have already completed a Masters with them. Thirdly, I wouldn't do this if my hours from my last attempt at the degree didn't carry forward AND if my 2 core classes required by the university from the other degree didn't transfer over. Answer: ALL of it counts, giving me 18 hours of the program already completed before I start! That's nearly 1/3 of the program under my belt before I ever take another class. What a blessing!
So, I guess God can't thump me on the head any harder with all of these messages....I am going to finish the degree. And I just hope that somehow I can find a way to use it to make a difference somewhere. I don't have any intentions of changing careers--I love my job right now. But I know there are many other opportunities out there--church, etc.
So, everyone pray for Richie.....he's gonna need it.

It's All About Me....at least for part of the day!

Birthdays just aren't the same anymore, especially when you're a Mommy. To be honest, I don't look forward to them, but this year is different. I am so excited about today! I took the day off of work and I am getting a facial and body wrap!! I can't wait--wait a great treat!

But first, I am going to Weston's book fair to help him pick out books....gotta still be a Mommy, even on your birthday!

New Babies!

My Mom and Dad's miniature donkeys had not one, but two babies last week! They were out of town and came home to two little babies. The Mommas wouldn't let you get very close, so I put the "big" lens on to get some cute pictures of the little ones. They think they have one boy and one girl.

The donkeys are such cuties (especially now that I don't have to live near them and deal with their antics)!

A couple of posts today so be sure and look back.....

Baby Kaden comes to visit

Ok, I am a little behind on this post, but baby Kaden came to visit us. He was 6 days old at the time of the visit and each of the kids took turns holding him. He was SO little! I am not used to teeny tiny babies! He is such a little sweetie (even if he did pee-pee on me!!).

These little guys will be in the same graduating class together! Landen looks like "Conan" next to him though!

Weston thought it was so neat how small Kaden was!

Another baby for Kylie to spoil!

She made a funny!

I loved reading Stacy's post about what her boys said...too funny! So, when Kylie made a "funny" today, I knew I had to jot it down or I would forget it. We were turning into our neighborhood and in front of us was a dually truck. Kylie was sitting up front in our truck and saw the dually truck and said, "Oh my gosh, that truck has some big buttcheeks!" Richie and I both burst out laughing! It was hilarious.

Open My Eyes

For three days in a row now, I have experienced something that has literally broken my heart. I'll start with Wednesday....while I was sitting in a doctor's office waiting to visit with the doctor, a lady walks in with a baby in an infant carrier. I thought to myself, "I bet that little baby girl is around Landen's age." The lady walks up to the receptionists' window to check-in and I overhear a comment made by the lady with the baby. She said, "I don't know her middle name, do you?" I thought how weird for someone to not know a child's middle name. Whose baby does she have with her? The lady finished checking in and went to sit down. That's when I saw her name tag....a DHS worker. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I could not imagine my child being in someone else's possession. I asked around at the doctor's office and evidently the girl had just been removed from her home and DHS is required to bring her to a licensed physician within 24 hours for an exam before she is placed in a foster home. I felt my heart break. I love my kiddos so much and to know that something I have done is causing them to not be with me would devastate me. She was a beautiful little girl, very alert, eager for love. She had such a sweet disposition--she was trying her best to get the attention of the DHS lady.

The next day I was again waiting in a doctor's office and a lady in her 50's walks in with an infant carrier. She was a foster mom and the baby girl in her possession was just 2 weeks old and weighed 7.5 lbs. Evidently she had been removed from her mother's possession at birth because the mother already has 2 other children in DHS custody. No offense to the foster mom, but it was so sad to watch her interact with the baby--there was no bond, no love in her actions. The baby cried for several minutes while the lady filled out the paperwork--I wanted so badly to get up and soothe her! I again started crying....this baby girl was smaller than any of my children at birth! I remember the moment each of my kids came into the world--I could not grasp what it would feel like to lose my kids from the moment they arrived. I wanted to just take that baby girl home with me (as Richie is reading this, he has stopped breathing and is in sheer panic I am gonna show up with a kid one day).

Today at another doctor's office, I saw a grandmother who had been granted custody of her 3 grandchildren. The mother, a meth addict had burned down their house. She is now in prison. There were two boys around 2nd grade and kindergarten and another baby around 18 months. The boys were talking but not acting horribly and as I walked by, the grandmother just hauls off and kicks one of them. I was so shocked.

I don't know why I am witnessing these children's struggles with no parents...I am not sure what it means to me. Maybe it's just to ask for one more voice to pray for them. Pray that these kiddos get good homes with good people who really want to love them. Pray for our system--pray that these kids (like the 2 week old) don't have to stay "in the system" but rather are available to adopt by loving parents! Pray for the parents of these children--that they may be able to rehabilitate and learn to love their kids as they are called to do.

C25K....hopefully!

C25k

While I was pregnant, I had this wild hair that after the baby I wanted to be a runner. Ok, background on me--I DON'T RUN. But some of my pharmaceutical rep friends are runners, and so here I was a big pregnant girl, thinking "I can so do that, too!" Well, not to disappoint myself, I am trying to hold myself to my promise. I also thought that if I post my intentions on my blog, then I am really holding myself to it! I have a really cool app on my iPhone that is all about getting you in shape in 9-12 weeks to run a 5k. It has prompts of when to run and walk and each week it adds a little more running to the mix. There's also great websites I have been visiting to get ideas (like the one above). So, I am "training" to run the 5k in July at the square...yep, it'll take me that long to get it. My goal is to run the entire thing...even if I run slower than all of the walkers out there! And, I have a partner....Kylie! Yep, she is running with me! She has been out training at night and plans to do the 5k!

So, thank you Erin for not laughing last night when you drove by and I was about to fall over and I am giving full permission for anyone out there to hold me to this! It's gonna take all the accountability I can get to do it.

My Parent's Handbook

First of all, Becky and Katie, thank you so much for your sweet words about Kylie's post and how I handled it. It meant a lot. You see, I struggled for a few days about posting about that whole situation--I was SO embarrassed. I thought, "I don't want people knowing about this, what kind of parent will they think I am??" But you guys made my day with your sweet words! We have been going to a new church for a few months now and absolutely love it. We also started a Home Group and we are studying "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. I have to give credit to the book for how I handled Kylie's situation. I have learned so much in just two chapters of that book. I was really moved by the concept of two parts of a child that you need to reach. Basically you can discipline a child all you want, but if their heart isn't in the right place, now amount of discipline will matter. So, you need to also help them align their heart with God. It sounds simple, but in reality, it's so hard to do! What I mean is that when our kids act up, it's a whole lot easier to spank, give them time-out, or yell than to sit down and help them understand the deeper issue at hand. It's going to take more time when my kids act up, but it is time well worth the investment. I have three wonderful kiddos and I want to make sure that they stay on the right path, follow God, and always desire to do the right thing.

I am by far not perfect in my parenting--trust me, I have yelled plenty! But I am really going to commit to stepping back and trying to get a little deeper with them. I have to give a ton of credit to Richie. He really tries to sit down with the kids and explain to them about what they have done wrong and why they are being punished. Now we both need to add the centrality of the heart to the conversation.

I strongly encourage anyone with kiddos to read this book. It's designed as a bible study, but you can definitely read it on your own and work through the handbook. Or hey, get a few people together and study it! You won't regret it!!

A Hard Lesson

Kylie disappointed me the other day. I know that our kids will make mistakes, but it's still hard when you think you've done everything right as a parent only to have them do something disappointing. She stole a "pointer" out of Mrs. Kindle's class (a pointer is a hand on a stick and the hand has its fist closed and it's pointer finger out). The sad part about the whole thing is that she has one at home already!! However, she felt the need to lift the teacher's pointer from the classroom! I was so upset--I was disappointed, mad, and sad all in one big bundle. I wanted to make sure I punished her, but I really wanted her to learn from this and not make a habit of it!! So, I made her write a note to Mrs. Kindle and return the pointer (I had already talked to Mrs. Kindle to let her know the pointer was at my house and it was coming back to her).

Here's the note Kylie wrote:

Here's the translation (with the authentic spelling and grammar of the letter):

Dear Mrs. Kindle

I'm very very very sorry I took your pointer. and you told me not to take stuff. and I did listen to you. and thank you for letting me spin minutes because it helps me learn not to take other peoples property. Alot I'v known But I don't know why I took it I guess I just whanted to play teacher. our write down names. again I always don't git what I whant and that's OK because every body don't git what they whant. and I'm going to think about what I did and not do it never again. but I'll think all night about it.

Love

Kylie Faith Cumbie

P.S. I'm really really really really sorry

************************************************************************************

I also had Kylie read 3 devotions out of her devotional book and tell me what they meant in terms of what she did. She read one on lying, one on the 10 Commandments, and one on doing the right thing. The girl broke down when she realized she broke one of God's rules. That's when it clicked I think.

She's a good little girl--she just wanted something she couldn't have. You know what? We all have done it!! As I disciplined her, it was a wake-up call to me to realize there's times that I want, want, want and don't need certain things. There are times I get upset when I don't get what I want--but that's life! So, the whole experience was a learning lesson for both of us!!