Singing toTaylor Swift...

I had a Mommy moment today as Daisy, Willow & I were driving to the fabric store. We were driving on the free way, just singing our hearts out to Taylor Swift, when all of a sudden I looked in the rear view mirror and watched Daisy in the back singing about Romeo & Juliet. This giant rush of emotion filled by body and I just started crying. It just hit me that she was growing up. That she was really mine. And there we were just singing away having a great time- and I had a daughter. My heart filled up with so much love that it over flowed from me and I just let the tears fall. I have this remarkable chance to be a Mother, and although I am so imperfect, I pray for a million more moments like todays, to prove I am worthy of being their Mama.

Grace's first day of Preschool...

Grace had her first day of preschool this morning and she was thrilled to take her back pack filled with treasures! She picked out her very own folder, and packed her box of crayons, glue sticks, scissors and pencils. She felt pretty grown up, finally getting to do the things Tristin & Daisy were doing (like school work & pick out school supplies! Who doesn't love that?) She had a great time and I love that we are doing it just once a week on Thursdays from 9:00- 11:00 AM. I know it sounds terrible, but I didn't want my schedule to get too crazy and with Daisy in school M,W & every other Friday, I didn't want too many things on my plate that I would probably end up forgetting at some point.
The other kids are doing great in school so far and come home tired, but eager to share their day. It's pretty crazy that I have 2 kids in school now. Wasn't I just 18, like yesterday???

Making Lemonade...

We've all heard the phrase a thousand times before: When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade! Well, the past week and 1/2 has reminded me:

# 1- to do just that.
# 2- I control about 1% and God has the other 99%
# 3- I go into panic mode when stress arrives.
# 4- There are usually a lot of phone calls to my Mom.
# 5- ...and a lot of tears.
# 6- She reminds me that this is life, it isn't the end of the world, it will all be alright, I am stronger than I think, there are lessons to be learned, she loves me and so does the Lord, so let go and give it to him.
# 7-I pray my guts out and plead for help.
# 8- I listen to what my Mom said, I repeate it over a million times in my head, and then I admit I am powerless and I need help.
# 9- I finally surrender and hand it over to God.
# 10- and then, when it settles down, and life is ok again, I see that God carried me through it and I survived!

It's usually a 10 step process with me, I've realized.
The past week and 1/2 I've felt like everything around me has been falling apart and I've been swrilling around in panic mode. I finally feel like I'm starting to unwind a little.

*Thinking Trav lost his job really turned life upside down for a few days. I was a wreck. My stomach was in knots and I felt sick. I just knew we would lose the house and who knew what else. We were overjoyed when everything turned out.

*I had Mastitus again and felt terrible for days, but thankfully got medicine right away this time,making this experience a million times better than all my previous infections.(still crappy though!)

*Our van stopped working. I went out Saturday to go to yard sales BY MYSELF (because Trav was home for the first time in years!) to find the van completely dead. I just cried. I was so mad that I couldn't control anything around me. I felt helpless. So I just cried. Trav took the battery in, found out it wouldn't hold a charge, bought a new one, and it started working. Yeah! And only $ 100.00 later!

*I thought I was getting strep throat again. I fought that for days,it came on so fast and my throat was TERRIBLE. I just knew I was going to have it. I took lots of stuff, stayed home from church, laid in bed, and wondered what other nasty infection my body was going to catch, but finally, it started to get better. So no Dr. visit, and no real drugs needed!

*And then the beloved bug ... Trav left for work Monday morning, barely got down the street when it died! He had to push it back by himself at 5:30 in the morning to the front of our house. I woke up to find Trav took the van with Willows car seat inside, so I was stuck at home and with a dead bug. Luckily, Angie picked me up with an extra baby seat, and we were able to run our errands.I called Max to help charge the battery (Trav said the dome light was left on, probably by Grace who loves to climb in the car, push all the buttons and then leave them all on, causing the battery to die ALL. THE. TIME!) After charging for a few hours, I started it, and sure enough- SHE WORKED! I was so relieved!

It was just a bunch of little things that all added up within a few days of each other and I realized that God is in control, I'm sure not. I am so grateful for prayer, and friends who help listen when everything is falling apart. Hopefully, I'll calm down now and get some laundry done!

Shane & Chelsea are in town!

I've been looking forward to today for the past week. We went and saw Shane, Chelsea and the twins today for a little bit. They got in at 3:30 AM from Portland, so they were a little tired. I can't believe how big the twins got! They are both SOO precious, adorable, have the prettiest blue eyes, are alert, smiling and so darn cute! It felt like heaven to just sit and talk with Chelsea for a hour before I had to get the kids from school. I can't even count the number of times I have had meltdowns and crying fits because I've missed her SO much. It's been really hard with her gone. There's been so many times when things have been falling apart and I would get that feeling- just go to their house, eat ice cream, have a good cry, talk it out and feel better- but then it would hit me like a thousand bricks, " Oh, I can't, they are gone."
I just love them so much and wish things were different.
P.S. Thanks for my IKEA napkins dear!

Sleeping Beauty...

What is it with my girls sleeping half way off couches & beds these days?

("I'm not even mad, I'm impressed!" From out favorite movie-Anchorman.)

Someone doesn't like yard sales...

Grace got a hold of my camera while I went out to a yard sale this morning. This is what I found... poor Willow! ( And, yes, I cleaned my van windows today! Gross!)

Daisy lost her first tooth!

Daisy lost her first tooth last week while we were at Lara's playing & crafting. It was wiggling for a few days, and sure enough, it finally came out. We were kind of surprised it happened so soon- Tristin was in 2nd grade when he started loosing his.

Tristin and our neighbor

A few weeks ago our neighbor across the street was putting his 4 wheelers away after the weekend, but before he did, he took all the kids for a ride up and down the street. They all loved it!

The last of Swim lessons...

Yes, swim lessons have been done for about a month now, but I haven't been able to do much with my camera for the past few weeks. I'm just trying to get caught up now. The kids had a blast this summer taking lessons and they all improved a lot from last year. They all love the pool and it was great to watch them become more comfortable and confident in the water.

My Mom has my charger cord!!!

So, my Mom called to tell me that she has my camera charger!!! Yeah! I can't even tell you how I have missed it, or how many stores I have been to to find they were $ 40.00! Really? I've been online, on ebay, and Samsungs website without much luck. I just had a feeling like I should wait and not buy one, and sure enough my sweet Mama saves the day again! Thanks Mom!
(I almost didn't get a picture of the kids first day of school because of my old, stupid camera. Luckily, I did though!)